Investigation of the Role of Poverty in Driving Petty Crime Among Youth in Kaduna State

The relationship between poverty and criminal behaviour is a foundational concern of criminological theory, and its specific dynamics in the context of youth petty crime in northern Nigerian cities require empirical grounding for effective social crime prevention policy. This study investigated the relationship between poverty and petty criminal behaviour among youth aged 15 to 30 in Kaduna North and Chikun Local Government Areas, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive correlational survey was conducted among 260 youth drawn from low-income urban settlements through multistage random sampling. A structured questionnaire assessed household poverty indicators, involvement in petty crimes (pickpocketing, shoplifting, begging-with-coercion), and social capital measures. Pearson correlation and binary logistic regression were applied. Results showed a significant positive correlation between poverty scores and self-reported petty crime involvement (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Unemployment (OR 5.2, p < 0.001), absent father figure (OR 3.8, p < 0.001), and low educational attainment (OR 3.1, p < 0.001) were the strongest poverty-related predictors of petty crime engagement. Youth with access to any formal social support (religious youth groups, trade apprenticeships) showed significantly lower petty crime rates (p < 0.01). The study concludes that poverty remains the most powerful structural driver of youth petty crime in Kaduna. Recommendations include a targeted economic empowerment programme for at-risk youth, vocational training expansion, and poverty-sensitive community crime prevention approaches. Keywords: poverty, youth crime, petty crime, Kaduna State, social criminology