Why is a community important?

Crime effects the community on a number of levels and in a number of areas. For example, the theft of a car deprives the car owner of transportation, which may lead to a job loss, difficulty transporting children to and from school, meeting social and family obligations. This has an added economic impact to the dollar value of the stolen car, as it can deprive the car owner of wages and so on.

There is also the impact of moral. Continuing with the example above, the car owner may now feel vulnerable, the children and family may feel less safe both from the direct violation of the theft, as well as believing that the father or mother is no longer capable of protecting them, that law enforcement is no longer capable. Neighbors may also share these feelings. This negative impact on moral can breed low self-esteem of the car owner and the rest of the community, leading to a sense of hopelessness and depression, which in turn can create other social and economic problems.