The broken windows theory is the idea that there is importance to disorder when it comes to assisting and generating crime. General disorder leads to fear from a community, which allows for more crime to be committed because of decreased social control. In other words, an un-fixed broken window will ultimately lead to more broken windows. Smaller problems such as drugs or gangs in a community that are not being actively taken care of by the police cause people to leave these areas out of fear. As the area becomes scarcer in population, the crime will progressively become more serious.