A man caught keying a Tesla in a San Jose Costco parking lot has been arrested and charged with felony vandalism, police confirmed Monday. The incident, captured on video, shows an older male in a U.S.A. jacket scratching the car before later denying involvement when confronted.
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph condemned the attack, saying, “No matter one’s personal beliefs or frustrations, they do not justify illegal actions.” He emphasized that property crimes tied to political disagreements should not be tolerated.
The man that was caught on camera keying a Tesla at a Costco parking lot in San Jose last Friday, has been arrested for Felony Vandalism.
A FV conviction for damage in excess of $400. is a sentence of 16 months to 3 years in a State prison, “based on circumstances.” pic.twitter.com/4xFO8LlDN4— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) March 18, 2025
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also addressed the situation, warning against retaliatory actions targeting Musk or Tesla. “Keying a car because you don’t like the person who designed it is like breaking a clock because you don’t like the time it shows,” he wrote on X.
The internet did its thing. The guy caught on camera keying a Tesla was found within a couple of days of the video being posted on X and confronted. He was wearing the same jacket. His license plate is documented for the cops to see. The insurance company has someone to send the… pic.twitter.com/xdT0JnuuqS
— Midnight (@Nocte_Insanire) March 18, 2025
Musk responded to the arrest with an American flag emoji.
The incident is one of several recent cases of Tesla-related vandalism. Flyers have appeared in San Francisco urging people to sell their Teslas, referring to them with slurs. A Tesla dealership in Oregon was recently fired upon, while a Seattle lot suffered a fire that destroyed multiple Cybertrucks.
Tesla’s association with Musk, who is a close ally of President Trump and involved in his cost-cutting DOGE initiative, has made the company a target in left-leaning areas. Some activists have accused Musk of promoting policies they oppose and have attempted to intimidate Tesla owners as a result.
While the San Jose suspect’s motives have not been confirmed, the case adds to growing concerns about politically driven property crimes. Authorities are investigating whether the incident is part of a broader trend of targeted attacks against Tesla owners.
