Is this criminal damage?

[Mike007]

There does not have to be intent for criminal damage as recklessness is also included in the definition. eg, football gets kicked through a window during a game of football - not intentional yet reckless to play football close to glass. Also the damage does not have to be permanent, just take effort to make good.

Although it IS criminal damage, I think it would be considerably OTT to approach the Police with this one and, OP, would you really want this person to have a criminal record by wanting to secure items in a wooden box?

Sorry but your idea of criminal negligence is wrong. The football analogy is good . It would get thrown out of court for lack of criminal intent or reckless negligence. It takes a lot more than this to establish criminal negligence.