Which scenario is an example of aggravated criminal damage?

• A. A person vandalizes a car in daylight.
• B. A person burns a field for land clearing.
• C. A person steals a car.
• D. A wife cuts the breaks on her husband’s car, knowing he will drive it and it would cause him injury.

Answer: (D)

Aggravated criminal damage is about damaging property plus an intent to endanger life or cause serious harm. In this scenario, someone deliberately cuts the brakes on a car, knowing the owner will drive it and could be injured. That intent to put a person at risk elevates the act from ordinary criminal damage to the aggravated form, because the damage is done with a clear plan to endanger life. The other examples involve property damage without that intent to risk serious harm (vandalism in daylight), or are offenses like theft, which don’t involve damaging property in a way that endangers someone.