The importance of historical and cultural monuments in contemporary societies is widely recognized, as they are considered the common heritage of humanity and possess significant economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Despite this recognition, these monuments have often been subjected to attacks and destruction. To safeguard these invaluable assets, legislative bodies in various countries have enacted stringent laws and imposed severe penalties. However, a new dimension that warrants attention is the criminological perspective on the crime of destroying historical and cultural monuments, which has thus far been largely neglected. Criminology strives to achieve its ultimate goal of crime prevention, and given the critical importance of historical and cultural monuments, realizing this goal becomes even more imperative. 
This article seeks to explore the factors contributing to the destruction of these monuments, including psychological, environmental, political, religious, legislative, and wartime influences, as well as various dimensions of prevention such as social, environmental, and situational measures.
Pre-criminal measures addressing this crime are of particular importance, as the destruction of these monuments is often irreparable and irreversible, causing adverse effects on various social, economic, and political elements. Research indicates that preventive actions are highly effective and should be prioritized. Among these, wartime and social development-related preventions, such as the privatization of prevention measures, are particularly significant. Delay in implementing these preventive actions will result in irreparable damage to the historical and cultural heritage.