VANDALISM

Destruction of public property is called vandalism. It is a common problem in all over the world. Usually,  it costs any government billions of dollars. Since vandalism means the deliberate destruction of public property, it is regarded as an offence punishable by the law. It is a senseless crime.

There are many forms of vandalism. Among them, spray painting & scribbling on the walls, scratching, defacing etc. are very common & usual forms of vandalism. Changing  the information in a personal web account  is also another form of vandalism. According to the researches, most of the vandals are teenagers & both boys and girls engage in vandalism. However, boys are more tend for vandalism than girls. Normally ,elderly people are rarely found in engaging in vandalism.

Most of the times, vandalism occurs in public places including public transport services, libraries, historical sites, parks & schools. School vandals mostly vandalize desks and chairs, notices, charts and walls in classrooms and also the canteen, main hall, library, laboratory and the toilets are other most common places. Mostly students from grade 9 - 11 vandalize the school property. Usually students in lower classes don't do it as the scared of punishments.

There are many different reasons for vandalism. Peer group pressure or a simple act of fun, frustration and anger, lack of meaningful activities are common among them which can influence people towards vandalism. 

The best way to prevent vandalism is self-discipline. Some considerable steps should be taken by the relevant authorities to cultivate positive attitudes in children. The young generation must be educated on the negative effects of vandalism. This knowledge can be given at home, school or religious places. The schools can organize meaningful activities for young people to engage in, so that they develop a sense of belonging. And also, the authorities should monitor the public property regularly. When it comes to schools, teachers and monitors & can play a big role in preventing school vandalism. Usually, vandalism starts at school. So, school is the best place to put an end to this crime.

Vandalism could be an individual or a group act but, its cost has to be borne by the society. Therefore, there must be strict laws in order to prevent vandalism in a country.