- Legal Basis
- § 303 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to two years or a fine
- Summary
- Unlawfully damaging or destroying property belonging to another person
Criminal Damage (Section 303 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Property Damage Charges
Criminal damage to property is a frequently occurring offence that takes many forms in practice – from graffiti and deliberate damage in traffic to vandalism in public spaces. As an offence prosecuted only on complaint, it is pursued only upon the victim’s application unless the prosecution office affirms a special public interest. For expats in Germany, it is important to know that even minor property damage can lead to criminal prosecution.
Statutory Text – Section 303 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever unlawfully damages or destroys property belonging to another shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.
Paragraph 2: The same penalty applies to whoever, without authorisation, alters the appearance of property belonging to another in a manner that is more than trivial and more than temporary.
Paragraph 3: Attempt is punishable.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Property belonging to another: The property must belong to another person. One’s own property generally cannot be the subject of criminal damage, unless it is subject to a lien or similar third-party rights.
Damage: Damage means any more than trivial impact on the substance or intended usability of the property. This includes scratches on vehicles, breaking windows, demolishing furnishings, but also deflating tyres or removing essential components.
Destruction: Destruction occurs when the property’s substance is so severely impaired that it becomes unusable for its intended purpose or ceases to exist.
Alteration of appearance (para. 2): Since 2005, more than trivially and more than temporarily altering the appearance of another’s property is also punishable. This covers graffiti spraying and poster pasting in particular.
Typical Methods of Commission
Criminal damage arises in practice as graffiti and tags on buildings and public transport, scratching or damaging parked vehicles, breaking windows or destroying inventory, vandalism at public facilities, damage during neighbourhood disputes, and deliberate damage while under the disinhibiting influence of alcohol. In the digital realm, damage to data may fall under Section 303a StGB (data alteration).
Sentencing Range
Simple criminal damage is punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine. Attempt is punishable. Criminal damage to publicly used property (Section 304 StGB) – property serving public use, religious worship, or natural monuments – is punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. In addition to criminal penalties, civil law damages claims by the injured party may arise.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against criminal damage charges first examines whether the criminal complaint was filed properly and in time. It is further investigated whether the accused can actually be identified as the perpetrator – particularly in graffiti cases, identification problems frequently arise. In cases of damage during altercations, a self-defence situation may have existed. The question of whether the damage was actually more than trivial also offers defence potential. Rechtsanwalt Bafteh examines every case for individual points of attack and represents the interests of the accused with dedication and competence.
Typical case groups in criminal damage (§ 303 StGB)
From scratched cars to graffiti – criminal damage is generally prosecuted only on application (§ 303c StGB). For minor damage and first offenders, a discontinuation is often achievable.
Graffiti and altering the appearance
Since the introduction of § 303(2) StGB, for graffiti it is already sufficient that the appearance is not merely insignificantly and not merely temporarily altered. A damage to the substance is no longer required.
Scratched or damaged vehicle
For vehicle damage, perpetration is often difficult to prove. The defence examines the evidence and the amount of damage, which is relevant for discontinuation and sentence.
Joint commission
Where several persons are involved, the individual participation must be carefully worked out – not everyone present is a perpetrator.
Note: This information is general and does not replace advice in an individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wird Criminal Damage nur auf Strafantrag verfolgt?
Ja, grundsätzlich ist ein Strafantrag erforderlich (§ 303c StGB), es sei denn, die Staatsanwaltschaft bejaht ein besonderes öffentliches Interesse an der Verfolgung.
Ist Graffiti eine Criminal Damage?
Ja. Seit der Einführung des § 303 Abs. 2 StGB genügt auch eine nicht nur unerhebliche und nicht nur vorübergehende Veränderung des Erscheinungsbildes, sodass Graffiti erfasst ist.
Kann das Verfahren eingestellt werden?
Bei geringem Schaden und einer Wiedergutmachung ist eine Einstellung nach §§ 153, 153a StPO häufig erreichbar.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Criminal Damage? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Criminal Damage requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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