Irvine police detectives say they are seeking the public’s help to identify a man suspected of vandalizing at least 13 Teslas across the city in the past week.
The man spray-painted all the cars with “offensive” language, Officer Ziggy Azarcon of the Irvine Police Department said. He declined to elaborate on the words used.
On Monday, July 20, police first posted a video of a man spray-painting a Tesla in a parking garage near Michelson Drive and Carlson Avenue, where they said he spray-painted three other Teslas in the same garage. That footage was from around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17.
Teslas are typically equipped with onboard cameras. Footage of the man spray painting the Tesla, covering his face with his shirt in what appears to be an attempt to dodge fumes, was provided to police by one of the vandalized car’s owners.
On Friday, July 24, police posted new footage of the man walking into and running in a parking garage near Michelson Drive and Carlson Avenue, where they say he vandalized nine more Teslas.
Police do not know what may be motivating him.
Vandalism of Teslas and protests against the Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company have been reported in recent years as Musk has received backlash for supporting far-right political movements and for his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting federal initiative, which drew scrutiny for job and funding cuts.
Irvine police ask that anyone who recognizes the man contact Detective Noelle at BNoelle@cityofirvine.org.
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