Tesla vandalism at Maryland school recorded by built-in cameras

A woman who vandalized a Tesla parked at a high school in Bethesda, Maryland, was caught in the act by the car’s built-in cameras, authorities say.

The woman approached a Tesla parked at Walter Johnson High School on Tuesday morning, pulled out an object, scraped it along the side of the car and then left, Montgomery County police said.

Video shows the suspect. Police say the woman apparently didn’t know the Tesla’s cameras were filming her, recording both the crime and her face.

Police said they don’t believe the woman knew the car’s owner or that the victim was connected to the school. She will likely face charges related to destruction of property, they said.

The vandalism is just the latest example of Teslas becoming targets in the D.C. area. Earlier this year, groups held protests at Tesla dealerships to oppose owner Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In April, a D.C. resident and former federal employee was charged with defacing property for allegedly vandalizing several parked Teslas in the District.

Some drivers have even put bumper stickers on their Teslas to show they don’t support Musk.

“I have nothing to do with the politics behind Elon Musk. I bought the car a couple years ago, and I can’t afford to just throw it away,” one Tesla owner said.

The reason why the woman vandalized the car in Bethesda is unknown, including whether politics played a role in her actions.

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact Montgomery County police.