THE WORD 'VANDALS' IS DERIVED FROM A TRIBE OF BARBARIANS BY THAT NAME WHO PILLAGED THE CITY OF ROME IN A. D. 455. NEWS CORRESPONDENT HARRY REASONER TOURS THE UNITED STATES TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF VANDALISM. THE VANDALS IN THE U.S. ARE NOT AN INVADING TRIBE, BUT RATHER AMERICAN CITIZENS OF ALL AGES. THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND STATISTICAL SURVEYS, THE FILM EXPLORES THE COSTS OF VANDALISM. IT FOCUSES ON URBAN VANDALISM TARGETS SUCH AS PARKS, SCHOOLS, VEHICLES, BUILDINGS, PUBLIC TELEPHONES AND CONVENIENCES, SIGNS, AND RECREATION AREAS, AND THE DAMAGE DONE TO NATURAL FEATURES LIKE TREES, STREAMS, MOUNTAINS, AND ANIMAL LIFE. FACTS, FIGURES, AND PICTURES ILLUSTRATE THE WASTE AND CONSEQUENCES OF VANDALISM; E.G., DAMAGE INFLICTED ON PUBLIC TELEPHONE COIN BOXES IN 1971 CAME TO $12 MILLION AND BROKEN SCHOOL WINDOWS COST EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH YEAR. FEW PUBLIC PLACES ARE SPARED BY GRAFFITI ARTISTS. MORE THAN 100 DEATHS EACH YEAR ARE CAUSED BY OBJECTS THROWN AT MOVING TRAINS OR CARS. THIS FILM IS INTENDED TO AROUSE THE CONCERN OF AVERAGE CITIZENS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EXPENSES OF VANDALISM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--BAC)