Vandalism is the act of intentionally damaging or destroying public or private property without the owners permission. It can take many forms, including graffiti, defacement, cutting trees without permission, egg throwing, breaking windows, arson, spraying paint on others properties, tagging, placing glue into locks, tire slashing, keying (scratching) paint, ransacking a property, flooding a house by clogging a sink and leaving the water running, and pulling up plants from the roots without permission. Vandalism can be committed by private citizens, children playing games, or individuals with an ideological or vindictive motive. Some vandalism may qualify as culture jamming or sniggling, which is thought by some to be artistic in nature even though carried out illegally or without the property owners permission.

Vandalism is considered a crime and is punishable by law. The severity of the punishment depends on the extent of the damage caused. In general, vandalism is not a serious crime unless the property destroyed is worth a lot of money. Many acts of vandalism are misdemeanors, meaning the maximum penalties include fines and up to a year in the local jail. However, vandalism that results in serious damage to valuable property is a felony, and defendants charged with a felony can face more severe penalties.