Homeowner’s Bold Message to Troubled Teens: Embrace Childhood, But Respect Property!

SURPRISE, Ariz. — A shocking act of vandalism on Valentine’s night has left a Surprise homeowner, Jeff Valdez, with a $400 repair bill for his security door. The incident occurred when a teenager kicked in the door, an act Valdez describes as random and senseless.

Valdez, who has lived in the Mountain Vista Ranch neighborhood for four years, expressed his dismay at such behavior, noting this was the first time his property had been targeted. The motivations behind these recent acts remain unclear, adding to his frustration.

Surveillance footage captured the moment the teen damaged the door, laughing as he ran away with a friend. “If it was my kids who did this and they were caught, there would definitely be some reprimands,” Valdez remarked, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable.

This incident has led Valdez to contemplate how childhood pranks have transformed into acts of destruction. “If you want to be foolish in a neighborhood, just don’t damage anybody’s property,” he advised, advocating for harmless fun instead.

Regrettably, Valdez is not alone in his experience. Just a month ago, another neighbor in Mountain Vista Ranch faced vandalism when teens threw rocks at windows, leaving broken glass scattered across the property.

Valdez is now calling on parents to engage with their children about their actions that night and hopes to receive an apology from the teens, along with assistance in repairing the door. “I’d accept that, then I’d probably make the kids work at my house for at least a day,” he added, lightening the mood with a bit of humor.

In seeking to understand this troubling trend, Valdez points to a potential lack of engaging activities for teenagers in Arizona. He urges local officials to reconsider how family-friendly environments are created, aiming to foster positive community interactions for youth.