Car theft topped the five most reported crimes to the police, according to a 2009 report on Crime Victimization Survey in Ghana by the Ghana Statistical Service.

They are Sekondi-Takoradi, Accra, Kumasi and Tamale Metropolitan Assemblies.

More than 80% of households that suffered car theft reported to the police, the report said.

Other crimes frequently reported were car hijacking (67%), theft of motorcycle (44%), car vandalism (25.0%) and assault/threat (17.9%).

With the exception of theft of motorcycle where all incidents are reported to other agencies, the proportions of victims who reported to authorities other than the police remained relatively small.

Incidents regarding three of the household crimes (theft of car, car vandalism and attempted burglary) were not reported to other agencies at all.

Crime against the individual respondents that received the highest attention of other agencies other than the police is assault/threat (4%).

Of the five most prevalent crime types recorded in the survey, some victims decided not to report to the police. This was based on a range of factors.

Among the factors they considered are that the police could do nothing, the police could not be trusted, fear and dislike of the police. A section also said the crime is not serious enough to merit reporting to the police.

Others thought it is inappropriate for the police to know or solve the problem themselves, or report to other public or private agencies or should be solved by the family.

Nevertheless, the decision about whether or not to report crime depend on the nature of the crime experienced.