Vandalism: What it is and how to stop it

February 8, 10:37 AMKaufman County Crime ExaminerSherri Thornhill

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Vandalism is a serious crime.

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If you have ever been the victim of vandalism, you know how frustrating it can be. Vandalism comes in many different forms and can cost a few dollars to thousands of dollars to fix. Kaufman County is not immune to acts of vandalism. Graffiti, flattening someone’s tires, or doing donuts on a patch of grass, are all acts of vandalism.

Vandalism is defined as: Willful or malicious destruction of public or private property.

In the State of Texas, an act of vandalism is a Class A misdemeanor if the damage amount is $50-$499, and a Class B Misdemeanor if the amount of damage is $500-$1,499. If the amount of damage caused is $1,500 or more, it is a state felony.

The best way to prevent vandalism to cars and property is for neighbors and businesses to watch out for each other. Some residents and many businesses have cameras on their property to dissuade those who may attempt to harm them or their property. Another avenue is to take part in a Neighborhood Watch program. If you see someone cutting a fence, flattening a tire, or keying a vehicle, don’t just look the other way, call your local police or sheriff’s department.

Teenagers often think that egging a person’s car or toilet papering their house is simply good fun. However, that “good fun” is a crime and it’s not fun for the victim who has to clean the car before their paint job is ruined. If you have teenagers, you may want to give them a friendly reminder that if they get caught doing those things, they will be cited or arrested.

A good rule of thumb is to treat other people’s property the same way you would want them to treat yours.

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