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What You Need to Know About Vandalism
7/6/2021 (Permalink)
What to do after Vandalism on Your Property
During the summer many find themselves taking relaxing vacations, spending time with friends and family, and spending quality time outdoors. These are great ways for all of us to destress, but all of these activities involve being away from home. While vandalism may not be something you think about happening to you, it is more common than you think. Here at SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County, we want to educate you on ways to prevent and handle vandalism should you experience it yourselves.
Defining Vandalism
Vandalism is the term used for the intentional damage or destruction one causes to another’s property. Vandalism can come in many forms, with varying levels of damage. It is important to note that vandalism can occur to one’s personal property as well as commercial buildings.
Common Forms of Vandalism
As previously mentioned, vandalism can come in many different forms. A common form of vandalism comes in damage to one’s yard, often caused by “pranks” committed by teens. This can be anything from covering a yard and house in toilet paper to destroying a home’s mailbox. Vandalism can occur in more serious cases as well with many cases involving spray-painting one’s belongings or downright destroying someone’s property. Regardless of the severity of the vandalism, it is an illegal act and should not be ignored.
Preventing Vandalism
The key to preventing vandalism is ensuring your property has proper security measures, similar to preventing burglary. A simple first step is to add outdoor lighting around your property. One way to effectively secure your property is through the installation of security cameras. These cameras can be as obvious or discreet as you would like, and video doorbells are becoming an extremely popular safety measure. Another simple method to lower your risk of being a victim of vandalism is by installing a fence around your home. This fence will make it more difficult for the vandal to access your property without being noticed. A very common preventative method is to place a security provider sign in your front yard. These signs show everyone that your house is protected and will make someone think twice before attempting to vandalize your property.
What to Do if Your Property is Vandalized
As vandalism is a crime, it is imperative that you contact your local law enforcement agency in the event that you experience vandalism first-hand. Law enforcement will look for the perpetrator and will ensure that they receive the proper punishment. It is crucial that you do not take matters into your own hands as it can not only make things worse but can also put you and your family in danger. Once law enforcement has been notified, contact your insurance agency about any property that has been damaged so they can give you proper compensation. Here at SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County, we hope that you never fall victim to vandalism, but if you find yourself in one of these situations you can contact us at (704)-840-6112. We offer vandalism related clean-up and repairs so it will look "Like it never even happened." We can always be reached anytime day or night to help you in your time of need, just give us a call.
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