Property Damage/
Vandalism
Vandalism
The action involving destruction of or damage to public or private property.
What is vandalism?
The crime itself is not directed at a specific person but their belongings
What is theft?
A targeted attack or a random act of crime involving damaged or stolen property
What is Property Crime?
An offense against property that typically involves the intentional or reckless infliction of property damage, defacement, alteration, or destruction of property.
What is Mischief?
Making your property harder for an offender to access. Examples: Upgrading the locks on your doors, windows, sheds and outbuildings
What is target hardening?
Changing our habits by setting rules. Example:
Introducing a rule that the last person entering /leaving should lock the door and remove the keys.
What is Rule Setting?
The crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something
What is Arson?
The act of illegally entering a building or other areas without permission, typically with the intention of committing a criminal offence
What is Break & Enter?
Marking your territory – and anyone crossing that line uninvited or unauthorized is trespassing.
Example: low fence, wall, hedge, flower bed or small bushes.
*Best to avoid a rockery or large stones as they can be used by vandals*
What are boundaries?
Using good quality CCTV (surveillance cameras) and/or alarm systems.
How to increase the chance of catching the offender?
Opportunity, Desire & Ability
What are 3 factors that create a criminal offence?
Not always about money.. People have attempted to extort sexual favours, promises or tangible property. The level of the threats used is not as important as the intention of coercing the victim to surrender something against their will
What is Extortion?
How to properly report property damage and/or vandalism?
A way of marking an asset to trace back to original owner, deter with visible markings and reduce the profit the criminal can make from the offence.
Example: Engraving or using UV pens to put initials on important items.
What is property marking?
The stealing of anything sent by post, either after it is deposited at a post office and before it is delivered, or after it is delivered but before it is in the possession of the person it was intended for.
What is mail theft?
Every one who commits theft, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, where the value of the stolen property is under five thousand dollars.
What is Theft under $5,000?
A theory that states any visible signs of crime and civil disorder, such as broken windows, vandalism, loitering, public drinking, etc.. creates an environment that promotes even more crime and disorder.
What is the Broken Windows theory?
Ensuring that a potential target is out of view.
Example: Not leaving items on view through your windows – i.e. laptops, phones, keys, bags
Being cautious about what you post online as it may be used to identify or locate you offline
What is target removal?
Entering another owners' property or land without permission, which encroaches on the owners' privacy or property interests.
What is trespassing
A crime that involves stealing from another person's goods or property by way of violence, force, or threatening
What is Robbery?