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A California Tesla owner is determined to apprehend the masked individual who deliberately damaged his Cybertruck while his family slept inside their home.
Jason Bedell, a long-time Tesla enthusiast who purchased his first Tesla Model S in 2015, recently acquired a Cybertruck in February 2024, being among the first in Novato to own the distinctive vehicle.
“I’m just such a fan of Tesla that I had to have one,” Bedell said.
“It’s not a political symbol. It’s just a car,” Bedell told Fox News.
The incident occurred in the early hours of March 29, when surveillance footage captured a person dressed entirely in black conducting surveillance of Bedell’s residence around 4:22 a.m.
Tesla vandalized at Cumberland Park shopping center in Tyler, Texas.
Man keyed a Cybertruck and wrote “F U” into it.
Do you know this vandal? pic.twitter.com/UqPwCS2T0o
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 31, 2025
According to the Novato Police Department’s statement: “The suspect placed duct tape over one of the security cameras and proceeded to vandalize the vehicle, throwing the concrete at the windshield multiple times, slashing all four tires, and leaving a yellow piece of duct tape with a handwritten note advising the tires had been damaged.”
The attack particularly disturbed Bedell given that his young family was home at the time. “I have a 4-year-old son that was sleeping in the house at the time,” he explained. “So it’s really unsettling that somebody came to my house to do this.”
The incident coincided with the “Global Day of Protest” organized by the “Tesla Takedown” movement, which saw demonstrations in 253 cities worldwide against Tesla and Elon Musk.
“I do believe the timing had something to do with this big weekend of protests,” Bedell noted.
The victim emphasized that his Tesla ownership isn’t politically motivated. “Most people bought these cars way before the election, way before Elon Musk, before any of this happened,” Bedell explained. “It’s not a political symbol. It has nothing to do with my political views. It’s just a car.”
Tesla Vandal Arrested
Chadd Ritenbaugh, the man who keyed a Tesla in Doylestown, PA, has been charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief and harassment, and two counts of summary harassment and disorderly conduct. pic.twitter.com/9NPujClAfL— Rusty Sun Compass (@sun_iscompass) March 29, 2025
“I’m trying to save the environment and be environmentally conscious, and now I’m getting backlash for it,” he added. “It’s just the wrong target for people’s hostilities, frustrations, and anger.”
Bedell has posted a $25,000 reward for information leading to the vandal’s arrest. The Novato Police Department requests anyone with information to contact them at 415-897-4361 or email [email protected].
This marks the second Tesla-targeted vandalism incident in Novato, though police haven’t confirmed if the cases are connected.
Recent weeks have seen several arrests related to Tesla vandalism nationwide, including a Pennsylvania man accused of drawing a swastika on a Tesla and a Colorado resident charged with firebombing.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said of the arrest, “Let this be a warning — you can run, but you cannot hide. Justice is coming.”
The FBI has established a task force to address the growing number of terrorist threats against Tesla.
