If you own a Tesla and you’re not already in the habit of glancing over your car in the parking garage before you walk away, this next story might change that. Police in Irvine, California, are looking for a man who has made a habit of walking through parking structures with a can of spray paint and leaving his mark, literally, on other people’s property.
So far, investigators say at least 13 Teslas have been hit. Not scratched, not keyed, but sprayed with paint, including one owner’s car that had a slur painted across the side in red. That’s not a prank. That’s the kind of thing that costs real money and real peace of mind to fix, and it’s happened enough times now that police believe they’re dealing with the same person acting alone.
What makes this one interesting from a car-guy perspective is how the suspect got caught. Tesla’s Sentry Mode, the feature that automatically starts recording when it detects motion near a parked car, picked up clear footage of the man in the act, not once, but twice. For a guy apparently trying to make a statement, he sure didn’t put much thought into the fact that his own target vehicles were filming him the whole time. It’s 2026. Cameras are everywhere, including on the very cars he was targeting.
Whatever point he thinks he’s making, vandalizing someone else’s vehicle over feelings about the brand or its owner isn’t the way to make it. That’s the frustration coming through loud and clear from the victims, and it’s hard to argue with them.
How the Vandalism Unfolded
According to KTLA 5, the suspect struck first on a Friday, working his way through a parking structure on Michelson Drive and Carlson Avenue and hitting cars up to the fourth floor.
He came back Monday and targeted a residential parking structure just around the corner in the same plaza, tagging nine more Teslas on the first floor.
A Suspect Who Knows the Layout
One detail that stands out is that the suspect reportedly skipped the second floor of the structure entirely, the same floor where Tesla owners often sit in their cars while Supercharging. That’s led investigators to believe this isn’t a random spree.
Whoever this is knows the property and seems to be making deliberate choices about when and where to strike.
What Police Are Recommending to Owners
For now, officers are advising Tesla owners in the area to park in well-lit spots with more foot traffic, since more eyes around a vehicle generally means less opportunity for someone to mess with it unnoticed.
They’re also reminding owners to keep Sentry Mode active and to make sure any dash cams have enough storage to record overnight.
Investigators are hoping someone recognizes the man from the surveillance footage before he targets more vehicles. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Irvine Police Department right away.