What is vandalism? According to Securipedia.eu, VANDALISM is the criminal act of willfully destroying or defacing property. According to an article in the Chron, the U.S. Small Business Administration states a single incident of vandalism costs on average $3,370. Besides the business suffering, a possible consequence of vandalism to the consumer is the increased cost of goods. If you think about it, loss does not happen in a vacuum. Eventually to stay in business, businesses will have to raise their prices to cover the cost of painting over graffiti or buying a security camera. According to the same article, another unwanted consequence is the lack of jobs, goods and services, because any new business will think twice before they invest in an area where there are signs of vandalism or graffiti crime.
Besides the dollar amounts, vandalism can create another cost. This second cost is more lasting as it affects the social well being of the entire neighborhood. An obvious example of this impact is vandalism creates a less than appealing neighborhood, which could cause a reduction in the value of the houses. Evidence of destruction of property certainly decreases the appeal, enjoyment and pleasure of the communities where people live and work. Unfortunately, cleaning up an area of destruction and graffiti is very difficult, as the neighborhood becomes a target and is hit again after the clean up.
Law enforcement experts dealing with nuisance crimes on a daily basis are quick to point out that vandalism is a true gateway crime. According to “Into the Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs”, Gangs use graffiti to communicate to each other threats, territory and even murder targets. The marking of territory and the sending of messages indicates some type of organized crime. Law officers understand this and the effects these crimes have on the community and how this problem can lead to more serious crimes. Unfortunately, most communities do not have the resources to deter and apprehend the perpetrators of nuisance crimes.