Tesla owner warns after alarming incident in parking garage: 'Never happened before'

A Tesla owner recently shared an unfortunate experience with vandalism on the r/TeslaModel3 subreddit. Incidents of damage to Tesla vehicles have been increasingly reported in recent years.

In this particular case, the owner revealed that two front wheel aero caps were stolen while the car was parked overnight at a garage offering free EV charging. According to the post titled "Had two from aero while caps stolen last night", the owner wrote: While I parked my Model 3 overnight at garage with free EV chargers, I had two front wheel caps (aero covers) stolen. They didn't take them all, but just two in the front. I guess it's some hate crime against EVs or Teslas. I had this car for four years and it is first time it happened. Will now be looking for new wheel covers to replace them.

The motive behind the theft is uncertain, though it might stem from anti-Tesla or anti-EV sentiment. Events like this, whether vandalism or theft, could make potential EV buyers hesitant, potentially slowing the broader adoption of electric vehicles. Despite the environmental impact of battery production and mineral mining, EVs remain significantly cleaner than traditional gasoline cars.

The Reddit community offered various perspectives. One user speculated, I'm guessing it was an unscrupulous Tesla owner that curbed two rims. Another noted, They probably only took the front caps out of some sense of caution for the sentry mode cameras which could have caught them removing the rear ones. A practical suggestion was also shared: When I started to swap my covers I realized that anyone who wants to toy with Tesla's will just start to swipe them I guess it's time for us to store our caps in the trunk when we leave it overnight.

Stories like this serve as a reminder that even as EVs offer cleaner alternatives to gas-powered vehicles, owners must remain vigilant against vandalism and theft.

Author: Sophia Brooks