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PhrasesCalling PoliceQualcuno ha danneggiato la mia macchina.
B1

Qualcuno ha danneggiato la mia macchina.

Someone has damaged my car.

Pronunciation

dan-neg-GYA-toh — 'gg' before 'i' makes a soft 'j' sound; stress on the third syllable.

When to use it

Use to report deliberate damage to property — vandalism, keyed car, broken window. Even if you did not witness the act, reporting it creates a legal record for insurance.

What it means

'Danneggiare' covers both accidental and intentional damage. To specify vandalism, add 'intenzionalmente' or 'di proposito'. The police report is essential for insurance claims.

Variations

Hanno rigato la vernice della mia macchina.

They have scratched the paint on my car.

Specific description — helps police identify a pattern of vandalism.

Hanno rotto il finestrino.

They have broken the window.

Common form of vehicle vandalism — may indicate attempted theft.

Qualcuno ha scritto graffiti sul muro del mio negozio.

Someone has written graffiti on my shop wall.

Property damage to business premises — higher priority report.

Mini Dialogue

— Qualcuno ha danneggiato la mia macchina di notte. — Ha una telecamera di sicurezza nelle vicinanze? — Sì, il condominio ha le telecamere nel parcheggio. — Ottimo. Il condominio ci darà le immagini su richiesta ufficiale.

— Someone has damaged my car overnight. — Is there a security camera nearby? — Yes, the building has cameras in the car park. — Excellent. The building management will give us the footage on official request.

Cultural Note

Italian condominium administrators are legally required to provide CCTV footage to police upon an official written request. Retention period is typically 24-72 hours for motion-activated systems.