Abstract
Crime Rate in Ozamiz City, Philippines
Mercy O. Caba-ong 1 , Jose F. Cuevas Jr. 1 , Angelita B. Alvarico 1 ,
Marie Rosellynn C. Enguito 2
Data about the crime rate are relevant in improving the crime control programs
in a locality. The purpose of this paper was to determine the crime rate in
Ozamiz City from the calendar year 2010 to 2013. This study also aimed to
compare the volumes of the index and non-index crimes, respectively and to
obtain the percentage breakdown of these offenses per year. The paper also
examined the spatiotemporal patterns of index crimes. Incidents of crime
reported and docketed in the police blotter were retrieved from Ozamiz City
Police Station. Case investigators were also interviewed to verify the data.
Findings showed a decreased crime rate in 2010 relative to 2011, a most
notable decline in 2012, and the sharpest increase in 2013. Among the index
crimes, physical injuries had the highest crime volume, followed by theft and
robbery. Despite the lower rate of non-index crimes compared to index crimes,
illegal logging, riding motor vehicles without the plate number, driver?s license
and registration could not be disregarded. The volume of crimes against
property was consistently higher compared to crimes against person. Most
index crimes occurred in streets followed by homes or boarding houses and
were highest in volume from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM indicating a non-random
spatiotemporal crime pattern. The findings may help the law enforcers in
Ozamiz City improve the strategies for crime control.
KEYWORDS: blotter, police, robbery, spatiotemporal, theft
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