depredation

depredation \dep-ruh-DAY-shun\, noun:

1. An act of plundering or despoiling; a raid.
2. [Plural] Destructive operations; ravages.

. . .the depredations of pirates and privateers on the high seas.
-- Jacqueline Jones, American Work

Arguing for drastic measures, they cite the horrible depredations of drug addiction.
-- Jacob Sullum, "Voodoo social policy: exorcizing the twin demons, guns and drugs", Reason, October 1, 1994

For the moment, Kioni remains a precious fragment of the old Mediterranean, the one that existed before the depredations of pollution and crass, exploitative development.
-- Andrew Powell, "Hellenic heaven", Harper's Bazaar, August 1, 1994

Depredation comes from Late Latin depraedari, "to plunder," from Latin de- + praedari, from praeda, "plunder, prey."