According to the broken windows model, what are considered magnets for crime?

The broken windows model, developed by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, emphasizes the importance of maintaining and monitoring urban environments to prevent small crimes, which can lead to more serious offenses. This theory suggests that visible signs of disorder and neglect, like abandoned buildings, signal to potential criminals that an area is not closely monitored or cared for.

Abandoned buildings serve as magnets for crime because they create an atmosphere of neglect and lawlessness. Such properties often attract vandalism, squatters, drug use, and other criminal activity. They can provide cover and a sense of safety for those committing illegal acts, as the absence of residents and the decay of the structure signal a lack of community oversight and law enforcement presence. Thus, addressing these types of environmental issues is crucial for crime prevention, as illustrated by the broken windows theory.

The other options, while they may be related to crime, do not embody the same significance within the context of the broken windows model as abandoned buildings do.