37Offences relating to property

### 37 Offences relating to property > > (1)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (1) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 18 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (1) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person shall not unlawfully destroy or injure any property. > > > (2)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (2) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 18 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (2) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person shall not unlawfully and maliciously kill, maim, or wound any animal the property of any other person. > > > (2A)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person who contravenes [subsection (1)](#GS37@Gs1@EN) or [(2)](#GS37@Gs2@EN) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 10 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. > > > (3)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 71 of 1962, s. 8 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (3) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (3) amended by No. 75 of 1973, s. 2 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (3) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person shall not unlawfully remove, displace, deface, obliterate, or conceal any – > > > > > > (a) boundary mark; > > > > > > > (b) beacon; > > > > > > > (c) survey mark; > > > > > > > (d) mark used in setting out any work; > > > > > > > (e) milestone or kilometre post; > > > > > > > (f) sign post; or > > > > > > > (g) notice – > > > > set up or posted by or on behalf of a public authority. > > > (3A)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person who contravenes a provision of [subsection (3)](#GS37@Gs3@EN) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 2 penalty units. > > > (4)  *\[Section 37 Subsection (4) added by No. 71 of 1962, s. 8 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (4) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 37 Subsection (4) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*[*\[Section 37 Subsection (4) omitted by No. 15 of 2014, s. 24, Applied:19 Dec 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-12-19/act-2014-015#GS24@Hpa@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (4A)  [*\[Section 37 Subsection (4A) inserted by No. 86 of 2001, s. 14, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-086#GS14@Hpa@EN) A person must not unlawfully damage or interfere with any work of a council or any material used or provided for that work. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 37 Subsection (5) amended by No. 15 of 2014, s. 24, Applied:19 Dec 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-12-19/act-2014-015#GS24@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 37 Subsection (5) amended by No. 86 of 2001, s. 14, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-086#GS14@Hpb@EN) *\[Section 37 Subsection (5) added by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person who contravenes [subsection (4A)](#GS37@Gs4A@EN) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding one penalty unit. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 37 Subsection (6) inserted by No. 15 of 2014, s. 24, Applied:19 Dec 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-12-19/act-2014-015#GS24@Hpc@EN) A complaint made for the purposes of the [Justices Act 1959](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077) in relation to an offence against [subsection (2A)](#GS37@Gs2A@EN) in relation to [subsection (1)](#GS37@Gs1@EN) is to be made within 12 months after the date of the offence.