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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

UPDATED: Gray-haired Southlake vigilante on a Hummer-keying rampage

Updated 09:11 a.m., September 20, 2008

by PegNews wire

Keying -- the last refuge of the passive-aggressive vigilantes.

If you live in Southlake and you own a ~~gas-guzzling monstrosity~~ Hummer, it seems that you're more than likely to receive a visit from an as-yet unidentified gray-haired man who likes to vandalize said brand. A Southlake Carroll Senior High student's Hummer was recently keyed, and the vandalism was caught by motion-activated security cameras on the SUV.

Police say the latest act is not an isolated incident; they have received multiple reports of Hummers being keyed in recent months. Methinks the vandal will be caught soon enough, as his face is clearly visible on the video accompanying the DMN article.

UPDATE: James Andrew Jeppe, 72, turned himself in for the vandalism. He was released from Tarrant County Jail on $1,000 bail, but could face a state jail felony charge, getting him up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine (for the $2,200 worth of damage he caused). Jeppe is a member of the Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods, a city council advisory board.

Posted by Alex B.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

greenpeace is back!

Dallas Spohn Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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You buried the lead. Let's talk about douchebag high school seniors who drive hummers.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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I applaud this old man and his odd ways. No one will want to drive their SUV if it's scratched. Especially high school kids who have no reason to be driving a Hummer in the first place.

Or, this guys got a kickback deal from local paint and body shops.

Chris Olson Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Southlake is an affluent neighborhood. Personally, I see little difference in a high school senior driving a Hummer - giving money to GM and OPEC (at the pump), than his driving a twice-the-price Porsche, thereby giving the equal amount of money to Volkswagen... It's sort of like those good souls who pay out the nose for a hybrid, which may give them warm fuzzies for taking money from OPEC and giving it to the car manufacturer, despite the fact that the cost-effectiveness is probably imbalanced insomuch that they will likely never reap the savings in gasoline that they spent on hybrid technology. -- Not that it will always be as such, but I personally will wait on market prices for gas-saving technology to balance out the investment versus return.

Christin Richard Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Prius owner.

It's not the war fuzzies that sell the car. It's good engineering through and through. I'm on my third one - starting in 2001 "the scary first year." The Total Cost of Ownership is comparable to cars in the next class up. The car itself is too. So it's a wash.

I personally hate big guzzlers but cannot at any level stomach personal vandalism against vehicles based on "green religion" any more than I can back the Unibomber or Right To Life Terrorism. There are driving philosophical statements behind them, but they are inherently violating individuals.

If vigilantism is so cool, then catch him, cuff him and throw him to the high school kids.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Hi, Jason. I like the way you think! Ha. So you 'are' getting your money's worth on your Hybrid? Aside from playing a cynical devil's advocate, I just haven't been able to bring myself to trading in for one, because I like to drive my cars for at least 8-to-10 years each. Are they cost effective on that scope, in your opinion, having owned a few? Thanks!

Christin Richard Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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We haven't made it to the "Replace the Batteries" stage on any of them. But across the board at the 4-5 year they've been fine. Theoretically they should last about 8 yrs of "average" (yeah right) driving 150-200K - hybrid faq. Just good solid little cars that currently do an ~ok job of holding value and a real good job of ignoring gas pumps.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Prius owner.

Are you handing out awareness citations on these internets?

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Trust me Doyle, I'm no do-gooder. When I feel like affecting the greater good, I make myself available for lampooning by the lesser elements of society.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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How would a Prius NOT net a positive return on investment after 8 years of ownership? Depending on the price of gas, you usually offset the price premium after 4 or 5 years of average use.

I'm not sure any rational soul can compare it to the cost of driving a Hummer.

Nor can I make any allowance for a 17 year old kid driving a 50k+ vehicle. Gimme a break. Where's the life lesson in that?

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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Ok, True - apples and oranges on a tangent.

I don't "get" Hummers so I kind of deny their existence. "Off road" and "military" vehicles in a Target parking lot confuse me.

Wow - yeah a 50K vehicle. My first bug was $500, so I'm not one of this class of Eloi we are discussing, obviously.

Still property damage is just that.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Actually, pre-owned Hummers go for about $25-28K on CarMax, so I guess if a person really wanted one, they could buy used, instead of a new something-or-other.

Christin Richard Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Somehow I doubt that the kid driving the Hummer around Southlake gets pulled over for absolutely nothing (and never ticketed) as often as my son did in his 84 Pontiac Sunbird that we bought from my grandmother's estate for $500.

That said, I can't think of a single legitimate reason for anyone, much less an adult who should know better, should enter a high school campus and vandalize a student's car. If he had a problem with the kid, talk to his parents or to the police. If it's the car, petition your government to outlaw them. If not enough people agree with you, oh well ... that's how it works in a democracy. We don't always get our way about things, so get the freak over it.

momzilla Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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If anyone earned an assbeating in high school.. it's some turd driving a hummer.

Clay213 Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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I have seen those kids that drive those high dollar cars. They are far from respectful when it comes to driving etiquette. But no matter what, I agree with Jason that vandalism was not the right approach. Although I found the story quite amusing. All I can think is shame on the parents.

Momzilla said something that I honestly believe Americans don’t quite understand. We live in a democracy. “if not enough people agree with you, oh well.. that’s how it is. Get over it.” Unfortunately we live in a spoiled society. If we loose an election or an argument or a law suite we cry and complain and raise hell till we get our way. There is never a final word. I am sorry guys I don’t mean to get off track. I can go on forever about the “American attitude”. Clay213, dont worry about the turd. Do you think they learn how to budget and finance when they get bailed out by their parents all the time??? (cough AIG) I would say never... lets let them grow up and learn the hard way. Maybe they can go to work for the DISD.

Dallas Spohn Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Back in '03 someone keyed my hood; I think because I had a John Kerry Sticker on my '02 Toyota Highlander. Recently, I took it to Toyota of Grapevine to fix the side door a client accidentally scraped, and I told them about the keying to my hood. They threw the repair to my hood on the house ! Now I have an Obama '08 sticker on my newly repaired '02, and I hope no one keys my vehicle but, I don't worry about it either. Just like in '03, I am taking a risk because I know there is a "Bubba factor" in our area. And I grew up here so I can say that! Although, I still have hope in the masses and that includes Bubba! And we know we don't need more of the same, and we are in this world together, so come on people, lets get it together!

adphoto1 Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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I was no Kerry fan in 04 but I contemplated a Nader sticker until I decided I didn't feel like having my car keyed by the "bubba factor".

I'm not holding back in 08, though. I'm slapping my Obama sticker on. Eff it. It's time for liberals to stand up and be proud of their beliefs in Texas.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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"the bubba factor"? Oh yes, I forget. If someone disagrees with my superior intellect and judgement then they obviously must be an ignorant "bubba". No intelligent person could possibly reach a different conclusion than I do, and if they do they must certainly be a "bubba".
Sheesh. Such tired elitist logic. Almost as tired as anyone who can turn a simple case of vandalism (motivation irrelevant)into a political debate. Leave it to a judgemental elite to find excuses to justify simple law violations.

rpm4565 Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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Wow, someone missed the point.

The "bubba factor" is the wingnuts who key someone's car because they don't like the political sticker on the back. It happens.

Has nothing to do with the rest of your nonsensical, rambling mess of a statement.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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That's no fair.

x*x - you stole my elitist slam for the week! Dang it. I've been pompous and smug... hell I drive a gddmned hybrid... and YOU get to be elitist. Man it's enough to ruin my day.

Say... I'll forgive you if you'll gimme your Nader sticker.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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The best comment here is Jason's about Hummers in Target parking lots. Expecting the military? Even my teenagers are disgusted by Hummers. My son proudly drives a well worn Prizm with a hubcap missing, because that's what he could afford! Although his grandad pointed out if he just replaced one side's caps with any style, no one would ever know they didn't match the other side.

Now THAT'S economical.

littlekinder Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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Those ideas ONLY come from grampas. Grampas rock!

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Hubcaps? Whoa, looks who's all fancy over here.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Sorry, my Nader sticker got all old and crumbly and withered away under the Texas sun. Kinda like Nader's career.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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Mike...I think you have yourself a new writer. Dallas Spohn, your post was brilliant...way to tie all the current events of the week together and quite humorous/sarcastic. Jason, keep posting your great wit...and x*x, sounds like global warming ruined your Nader sticker.

Don_Wishon Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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You're just making that "I had a Kerry sticker and got keyed" up. Ask any body shop guy and if they remember a keying thats political it's almost alway a car with the Republican sticker. Signs pulled up and the yards vandalized yep lefty wannabees again. Face it you may fancy yourselves uber hip and intellectual being a dem...but you are on the violent irrational side. My Vibe got keyed last year...and it had a little Romney sticker. Hmmm was it my mileage or the party? You can't just make things up....people can check. By the way those hummers are third cars that don't get used often by dad except when he needs it. Sonny drive to school and home and a few miles here an there. They pay your bills in the big picture so don't fret. Love the tax payer...ignore the loud whining freeloader.

azsd19 Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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Sounds like the dude needs a prescription for Lexapro and a PET scan for dementia. Typically, the ones responsible for economic downturns aren't in high school except within their own family unit. Teenagers are expensive, especially when you are having to insure them on a valuable automobile. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that his parents were at least as financially distressed as the guy who vandalized the kid's car.

Re the class/political conflict: In my neighborhood, the only incidents in 2004 were vandalizing of some Bush/Cheney signs. The victims were all elderly. It really frightened them. Sad thing when a WWII war vet feels threatened for exercising his right of free speech by putting a campaign sign in his yard.

The lone public dissenter on the street had a Bush/Cheney sign with the red circle and slash spray painted on it. He took it down because of the incidents. Equally sad thing when the alternative view feels the need to self-censor in order to avoid being associated with vandals.

momzilla Anonymous

1 year, 2 months ago
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AZSD19 You're funny.

::Hmmm was it my mileage or the party?

Neither if you park as well as you debate...

Holes

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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My Vibe

I can't take anybody who drives one of these seriously.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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"By the way those hummers are third cars that don't get used often by dad except when he needs it. "

I don't really understand this. If you're trying to justify your ownership of an H to someone on the "violent irrational side", saying that you don't even drive it doesn't really make me sympathetic to your woes.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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I mean - look! even Doyle let his Oktoberfest buzz dissipate before posting.

Thanks for taking the "Vibe" slash for me Scott. It needed saying but I was at a loss.

At least we now know somebody that "knows all the owners of Hummers" and "knows all the body shops" so those generalizations can be run past here - just not "freeloading liberal" ones like x*x (LMAO) Man, I can take the rest of the day off now that I know X has that end of the bell curve covered.