In theory, the concept of private property provides incentives against the pointless destruction of valuable items, by the very fact that they are valuable. Most people, when confronted with the choice of selling the Rembrandt for thousands of dollars or destroying it for nothing, will opt for the money. There presumably are indeed some lunatics, thrill-seekers, and nihilists who would choose destruction for its own sake, but would these people be deterred by the possibility of a jail sentence?
Nihilism will be the death of us all.
How this thread has gotten this far without reference to this scene, I don’t know.
Totally seconded.