A trend of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles appears to be backfiring on perpetrators, as the cars’ built-in camera system, “Sentry Mode,” is capturing the incidents on video, leading to arrests and charges.
Reports indicate that at least nine individuals have been caught on camera keying, writing graffiti on, or otherwise damaging Teslas in parking lots across the United States in March alone. In many cases, this footage has been instrumental in identifying suspects and securing arrests or warrants.
Tesla’s Sentry Mode, which automatically records video from the car’s exterior cameras when it detects nearby human activity, has been a key factor in these investigations. Tesla has even promoted the feature, with a March 20th post on X stating, “Smile, you’re on camera.”
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The company is also reportedly developing an upgrade to Sentry Mode that will cause the vehicles to play loud music when vandalism is detected.
The motives behind the vandalism appear to be linked to anger directed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk, particularly concerning his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Some incidents coincided with organized protests against Musk, such as the “Global Day of Action” on March 29th, which also saw instances of violence at protests.
One incident on March 24th involved a man allegedly keying a Tesla SUV in Pennsylvania. After being confronted by the owner, the man apologized and admitted his actions were “misguided,” stating his anger was directed at Musk.
He faces charges of criminal mischief, harassment, and disorderly conduct for allegedly carving a swastika onto the vehicle.
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Another aggressive act occurred on March 25th in Texas, where a man allegedly drove an ATV-style vehicle into a Tesla and vandalized two other Teslas. Police identified and arrested Demarqeyun Marquize Cox in connection with the incident.
Tesla cameras also captured vandalism incidents in Florida, Texas, and Arizona, involving keying and smearing bubble gum on vehicles.
The vandalism has resulted in significant financial losses for Tesla owners, with damage estimates reaching thousands of dollars in some cases.
There have also been reports of more serious attacks on Tesla vehicles and chargers, including alleged firebombing and shooting incidents, which have drawn the attention of federal law enforcement.
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While some suspects in New York, Minnesota, and Mississippi have so far avoided arrest, their actions were recorded by Tesla cameras.
One incident in North Dakota involved a man allegedly carving the letter “F” into a Tesla Cybertruck. The owner of the Cybertruck expressed disbelief at the suspect’s actions, stating, “I can’t believe this guy is potentially ruining his life to follow a political ideology.”
The message to would-be vandals is clear, as one Tesla owner put it: “If you’re going to vandalize these vehicles, you’re going to get caught.”
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