Property damage

Property damage (sometimes called damage to property), is damage or destruction of real or tangible personal property, caused by negligence, willful destruction, or an act of nature. Destruction of property (sometimes called property destruction, or criminal damage in England and Wales)) is a sub-type of property damage that involves damage to property that results from willful misconduct and is punishable as a crime.^[1]

Destruction of property encompasses vandalism (deliberate damage, destruction, or defacement) and arson (destroying property with fire), and similar crimes that involve unlawful infliction of damage to or destruction of a personal property or real property.^[2]

See also

• Criminal mischief
• Criminal damage in English law
• Arson
• Vandalism

References

1. Hörnle, Tatjana; Dubber, Markus D., eds. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Criminal Law. Oxford, UK: OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0191654602.
2. Wright, Richard; Jacques, Scott (2010). Property Crime: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide. St. Louis, MO: Oxford University Press, USA. p. 11. ISBN 9780199805709.