A local resident says someone carved a swastika into his Tesla.
The resident, who lives along a busy street in the Courthouse area, says the vandalism happened overnight Thursday into Friday.
“My Tesla was found this morning with a swastika keyed in on the hood this morning,” the man tells ARLnow. “Obviously this trend is happening nationwide. Didn’t think Arlington would be a place where stupid people do stupid things like this to innocent car owners.”
Arlington County police confirmed that they had received a destruction of property report about a 2023 Tesla being vandalized with a swastika.
“There is no suspect description(s),” an ACPD spokeswoman said. “Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).”
In response to a question from ARLnow about whether Tesla vehicles are being vandalized more often lately, ACPD spokeswoman Alli Shorb said the department is “not seeing any specific trend at this time.”
“While we have seen reports of destruction of property involving vehicles, they include vehicles of all makes and models and are reported in areas throughout the county,” Shorb said.
The incident comes amid a wave of protests and vandalism nationwide targeting Teslas and company locations, connected to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in slashing federal jobs, contracts and spending through the Dept. of Government Efficiency. President Trump has said he wants vandalism against Tesla to be labeled domestic terrorism.
The owner of the vandalized Tesla, meanwhile, said he hopes publicity around the incident “will get some action from” law enforcement, calling it a “growing public safety concern.”
