Forms of Vandalism and Their Relation as a Trigger Motives for Misdemeanor in Yogyakarta City

Abstract

The purpose of this research is aimed to find any forms of vandalism that could became a trigger motives for misdemeanor or lightweight crimes which will be based on the extensive practices and theories surrounding it especially in Yogyakarta City. This study also used a descriptive case study method. The research population included the apparatus of the Yogyakarta City Civil Service Police Unit, as a law enforcer in handling misdemeanor acts such as vandalism. Based on the research results it was founded that there were two forms of vandalism that usually carried out by the perpetrators in Yogyakarta. The first is in form of scribble while the second one is by some attachment or installation of posters / banners / leaflets / stickers without legal permission. Both forms made an unsettling impact while damaging the environmental aesthetics beauty, cleanliness and comfort of City as one of the most important cultural center in Indonesia. The acts of vandalism which took place in the Yogyakarta are targeting both public and private property. The targeted objects include cultural heritage sites and many vital public facilities such as signs and directions for traffic signs. Based on the theory of Goldstein and Stanley Cohen, the form of vandalism in the city of Yogyakarta is categorized as tactical vandalism, ideological vandalism, play vandalism, vindictive vandalism and malicious vandalism. The form of scribbled vandalism usually driven by pranks and delinquency motive. There are wide variety of motives such as to promote goods or services to spreading propaganda using posters and any form of provocative act. Another motive is the adolescent gang related action who want to show their gang identity, this could be traced back as an act of revenge, and their self-obsession due to their broken home condition or the lack of attention in their family. While the other motives are based on encouragement of artistic creations, which the process of a creative which often made an entirely different case since they belong to an art movement that sometimes misunderstood as an act of vandalism.