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What Is the Cost of Vandalism?
  andalism
to public and private property in British Columbia costs tens of
millions of dollars each year. The exact costs are difficult to
determine because no one is collecting the data at a provincial level.
The BC Schools Protection Program which provides insurance coverage for
BC schools keeps track of vandalism incidents that result in damage
exceeding $5,000. However, most acts of vandalism cost far less than
that. A Schools Protection Program representative who attended the 2005 BC Vandalism Prevention Conference was shocked to learn the extent of vandalism to BC schools.
Some organizations do keep track of their vandalism repair costs. For example,
School District No. 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows reports that vandalism
costs the district $450,000 a year, which includes both direct and
indirect costs. Ridge Meadows Parks and Leisure Services spends
$100,000 a year repairing vandalism. Neighbouring Coquitlam
School District spends $300,000 annually while the Parks and Leisure
Services departments of the Cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam
together spend between $200,000 and $250,000 a year. The Delta Parks and Recreation Commission estimates that
vandalism costs totalled $120,000 in 2005.
Viacom Outdoor, which installs and maintains Vancouver
City's bus shelters, reports that it costs about $250,000 annually to
repair vandalism damage. Smithrite Disposal, a garbage disposal firm
operating in BC and Alberta, says it has
spent hundreds of thousand of dollars over the years repainting its
garbage bins. The Richmond Public Library reports significant damage to
its book collections. In one collection comprised of 7,000-8,000 books,
70 to 80 percent of the books have been willfully damaged.
The Vandalism Prevention Network is interested in compiling vandalism
costs on a provincial level. If your organization keeps track of its
repair costs, you are invited to send us that information. We will
compile it and report annually. Use the Contact Us link in the top menu.
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