What is meant by the term 'criminal mischief'?

The term 'criminal mischief' refers specifically to the intentional damage to another person's property. This encompasses a range of actions that can cause physical harm or degradation to someone else's belongings, without necessarily involving theft. The key aspect that defines criminal mischief is the intent behind the action; the perpetrator knowingly engages in behaviors that harm or disrupt someone else's property.

In contrast to other options, criminal mischief does not involve the unlawful taking of someone else's property, as conveyed in option A, which refers to theft. Option C describes a form of theft, while option D pertains to breaking and entering, which involves unauthorized entry into a structure rather than the damage aspect emphasized in criminal mischief. Therefore, understanding criminal mischief requires recognizing the focus on damaging property rather than removing or unlawfully entering it.