Vandalism is criminal damage to property. It includes breaking the windows of public or privately owned buildings, painting slogans on the walls of public places, breaking furniture or machinery, and many other forms of damage. Vandalism may be an act of revenge, a way of expressing a political opinion, or a means of intimidation. Both young people and adults sometimes commit the crime just for “fun.” For example, football fans may tear down the goal posts after an important game. The most commonly seen form of vandalism is graffiti.
In the United States, the damage caused by vandalism totals millions of dollars yearly. In most cases, the costs are paid by the business, school, or government that has been vandalized, or by individual victims.
Vandalism is punishable by fine or imprisonment. A number of local governments have laws that hold parents responsible for vandalism committed by their children. But most acts of vandalism are not punished. Law enforcement is difficult, and the expense of repairing most individual acts of damage is not large enough to make legal action worthwhile.
See also Graffiti
