Tesla owners are being advised to take precautionary measures to ensure their safety in light of a recent wave of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles throughout the United States. Since Elon Musk, a Tesla owner, was appointed by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January, radical activists have been venting their frustrations by vandalizing Tesla dealerships, collision centers, charging stations, and privately-owned Teslas.
Despite each Tesla vehicle being equipped with surveillance cameras known as Sentry Mode, the incidents of Tesla vandalism persist. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi has taken action by pressing federal charges against four individuals involved in fiery attacks on Tesla dealerships and charging stations. The FBI is also investigating a case involving damage to a Tesla charging station in Washington.
During a recent cabinet meeting, Bondi assured Trump that these attacks, which she labels as “domestic terrorism,” are being treated with the utmost seriousness. She emphasized the directive given by Trump to prosecute those targeting Tesla to the fullest extent of the law and mentioned the successful arrests made so far. The perpetrators could face up to 20 years in prison without negotiations.
In response to the escalating incidents, a crime prevention expert and spokesperson for the National Police Association is offering safety advice to Tesla owners. Retired Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith advises owners to stay vigilant by being aware of their surroundings, turning down distractions like music and audio, and parking in well-lit areas close to buildings with people around. She also suggests parking in a garage when possible and notes the trend of owners staying in their vehicles during charging rather than leaving them unattended.
The article includes a map highlighting reported cases of Tesla vandalism across the United States and mentions a specific individual facing felony charges related to property damage in Missouri. Elon Musk has condemned these violent acts as a form of terrorism.
In Town and Country, a person is accused of scratching a woman’s Tesla, and in Boston, another person vandalized a Tesla with a brick. Meanwhile, in Albuquerque, an unknown individual keyed a Cybertruck. The incidents have left owners feeling unsafe and angry, with one owner expressing reluctance to claim insurance and a desire for the vandals to be held accountable.
In a separate case, Ryan Lyle Williams faces charges for allegedly keying a Cybertruck in North Dakota, while Yamaris Marrero is accused of vandalizing a Tesla in Florida with chewing gum. The damages to the vehicles amount to thousands of dollars.
Elsewhere, a Cybertruck owner in California is offering a reward for information on a person who smashed the vehicle’s windshield. In Brooklyn, two men were caught carving offensive symbols into a Cybertruck, causing distress to the Jewish owner. The incidents have led to calls for hate crime charges and concerns about safety.
Additional vandalism cases involve Teslas in various locations, including a grocery store parking lot and a shopping center in Bradenton. Police are urging the public to stop damaging cars and causing insurance rates to rise.
In a more extreme case, Demarqeyun Cox was arrested for ramming a “mini four-wheeler” into multiple Tesla vehicles, resulting in significant damage. Incendiary devices were also discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin, prompting an investigation by authorities.
Lastly, a Seattle couple fell victim to a Tesla keying incident, captured on video, highlighting a disturbing trend of vehicle vandalism.
“There seems to be a targeted intent and a kind of mockery with all the recording,” Ryan stated. “Should I avoid driving out during these times? Should I consider taking the bus instead? Should I be concerned about my safety? It’s disheartening to witness that not only my life, but also the lives of others, are being impacted.”
As reported by WRAL, a man named Jeremy shared that someone had carved the word “NAZI” into his Tesla. “While I was working from home, my wife was out running errands. When she returned and passed by the car, she noticed the damage,” Jeremy explained. “We immediately checked the footage from the car’s Sentry Mode, but unfortunately, we didn’t see anything.”
In Kokomo, IN, an American flag flew near a Tesla Supercharger station on October 26, 2022. Meanwhile, a Cybertruck was vandalized with a permanent marker while the owner was dining at a restaurant. The suspects, according to WPVI, are juveniles.
At the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, Kerri Pouliot’s Cybertruck was vandalized in the parking lot. Surveillance video from Sentry Mode showed a man keying the vehicle as he walked past. The incident was reported to the police, and the male suspect was confronted in the parking lot. The matter is currently under investigation.
A rural Tesla charging station in Wyoming was vandalized with swastikas spray-painted on the chargers, as per wyomingnews.com. Additionally, Abigail Gill, who uses a wheelchair, fell victim to keying while dining at a restaurant. Expressing her dismay on “Fox & Friends,” she stated, “It’s truly disheartening and disappointing to see this.” The cost of the damage to her vehicle was estimated at over $7,000.
In a separate incident, Paul Hyon Kim, 36, allegedly firebombed a Tesla dealership in an act that destroyed five vehicles. He is facing multiple state charges including destruction of property, arson, and possession of a fire device. The FBI announced that federal charges will also be brought against Kim, emphasizing that such acts of violence are not commendable and will have serious consequences.
On March 17, a Cybertruck was set on fire in the parking lot of a Tesla dealership in Kansas City. The fire spread to a second vehicle before firefighters arrived. The FBI and ATF released a joint statement indicating that the investigation was ongoing.
Furthermore, a Tesla dealership was vandalized by anti-Musk radicals who smashed windows and spray-painted swastikas, as reported by The San Diego Tribune. In another incident captured on video, a suspect was seen keying a Tesla in a Costco parking lot and was promptly apprehended by law enforcement. San Jose police successfully identified, located, and arrested the individual responsible for the felony vandalism within 24 hours of the incident being reported.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan expressed concern about a recent act of vandalism, likening it to “making a clock because you don’t like the time it shows.” He emphasized that if the crime was politically motivated, local residents should not be blamed for actions taking place thousands of miles away by individuals such as Elon Musk. The incident involved a Berkeley man named Hiroshi, who had his Tesla vandalized in a Whole Foods parking lot by another individual captured on Sentry Mode footage. Hiroshi, accustomed to such occurrences, noted that even the responding police officers, who also owned Teslas, had encountered similar incidents frequently. Multiple instances of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, ranging from keying swastikas to spray-painting vulgarities, were reported. The Metro Police Department is investigating these incidents as potential hate crimes. Meanwhile, a Tesla Sales, Service, and Delivery Center in Chicago was also vandalized, leading to the arrest of a suspect, Erin L. White, on charges of felony criminal damage to property. In another case at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, a Tesla owner captured on Sentry Mode footage an individual keying his car and is now pursuing legal action. This incident, along with others nationwide targeting Tesla vehicles, has raised concerns about deliberate and wrongful acts against Tesla owners. Additional instances of vandalism, including shootings at a Tesla dealership and spray-painting on Tesla Cybertrucks, have been reported in various locations, prompting investigations and legal actions. The attacks on Tesla vehicles have sparked outrage and calls for justice from affected owners and law enforcement agencies alike.
On September 10, 2024, a fire damaged four Cybertrucks parked in a Tesla lot in Seattle. Authorities confirmed that no one was injured, and only the vehicles were affected. Cooper Jo Fredrick, 24, was arrested in Plano, Texas, for allegedly attacking a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, on March 7. He is facing federal charges for igniting two cars at the dealership and could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, was accused of vandalizing Tesla charging stations with anti-Trump and pro-Ukraine messages before setting three of them on fire using Molotov cocktails. Clarke-Pounder, who accidentally caught fire during the incident, faces federal charges for arson. In another incident, a man was seen damaging a Tesla Model Y at the Ontario International Airport in California. Lucy Grace Nelson, 42, was arrested for attempting to set a Tesla dealership on fire with Molotov cocktails in Loveland, Colorado. Nelson was found in possession of materials for making incendiary devices. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, threw Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon, damaging several vehicles.
During the attack, Nelson was found in possession of an AR-15 rifle. He is facing federal charges for arson of property in interstate commerce and possessing an unregistered destructive device. Following the federal indictments of Nelson, Lansky, and Clarke-Pounder, Bondi issued a warning to potential violent offenders, emphasizing that committing crimes will no longer go unpunished. Bondi stated, “The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended. Let this be a warning: engaging in domestic terrorism against Tesla properties will lead to incarceration by the Department of Justice.”
An expert suggested that accused vandals not only must face consequences, but those consequences should be publicly dramatic to discourage future criminal behavior. Rob O’Donnell, a former NYPD detective, emphasized the need for visible repercussions to deter individuals guided by emotion rather than reason. O’Donnell proposed that law enforcement could collaborate with Tesla to implement measures akin to using decoy trains to apprehend graffiti vandals, citing a similar tactic employed during the subway graffiti epidemic in the 1980s.
O’Donnell expressed concerns that radical activists have lost touch with reality and reason, attributing this to a broader political issue and leadership vacuum within the Democratic party. He highlighted the influence of loud voices inciting anger and directing actions. Fox News Digital contacted Tesla for a response to these developments.
Contributors to this report include Fox News’ Rachel Wolf, Pilar Arias, Louis Casiano, and Preston Mizell.
