Latest news with #DexterSmithen
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tesla store reclaims Cybertruck after 5-day ‘test drive'
A Florida man is accused of absconding with a Tesla Cybertruck during what was supposed to be a 30-minute test drive. But a Tesla salesperson turned the tables on the suspect, finding the truck five days later with geolocation technology and driving it back to the store. The man was arrested when he returned to the store in search of items he had left in the truck, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported. Dexter Smithen was charged with grand theft of more than $100,000, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Smithen, 51, went to a Tesla store in Tampa on March 26 and asked to test drive a Cyberbeast, the six-figure, top-end version of the Cybertruck pickup. He signed an agreement to return within half an hour and gave the store a driver's license with his photo on it, police told Fox 13. When he failed to return, the store tried calling and emailing Smithen, but the phone number was disconnected. Sign up to get the Automotive News Service & Parts weekly newsletter covering the world of dealership parts, service and collision departments. A salesperson told deputies he was able to geolocate the truck March 31 and found Smithen driving it to a Home Depot. The salesperson took video of Smithen and waited for him to enter the building, then drove the truck back to the Tesla store and called the sheriff's department. The next afternoon, Smithen went back to the Tesla store, where he was arrested. He reportedly told deputies that he was trying to recover items he had left in the Cybertruck when the store repossessed it. The arresting officers said they found Smithen carrying credit cards and driver's licenses in the names of five different people. Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man accused of stealing Cybertruck during test drive returned to Tesla dealership days later
A Florida man is accused of stealing a Cybertruck during a test drive last month, then returning to the dealership at a later date to retrieve his belongings, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Dexter Smithen allegedly went to a Tesla dealership in Tampa, Florida, on March 26 to test drive a Cybertruck Cyberbeast after meeting with a sales person, according to a criminal affidavit seen by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Smithen gave the sales associate his driver's license, which was confirmed to be his, and signed a test-drive agreement to return the truck to the dealership within 30 minutes of leaving, which he did not do, the document said. Florida Woman Points Pellet Gun At Kids Fishing Near Backyard, Threatened To 'Blow Their Heads Off': Officials Attempts to reach Smithen through the number he wrote on the test-drive agreement were unsuccessful. The sales associate also emailed Smithen demanding the return of the Cybertruck. A different sales associate used geolocation tracking to locate the truck on March 31 and told deputies that Smithen drove it to a Home Depot, parked and went inside the store, the affidavit stated. Read On The Fox News App That salesperson took cellphone video of Smithen walking in the parking lot before recovering the Cybertruck and reporting the crime to the HCSO. Texas Man Calls 911 After Injuring Himself During Alleged Car Dealership Break-in Smithen returned to the Tesla dealership on Tuesday to retrieve some of his items that he left in the Cybertruck, according to the affidavit. He was arrested at the business, and while he was being searched, a deputy said he found five credit cards with five different names. Smithen has been charged with grand theft of more than $100,000 and unlawful possession of personal article source: Florida man accused of stealing Cybertruck during test drive returned to Tesla dealership days later
Fox News
03-04-2025
- Fox News
Florida man accused of stealing Cybertruck during test drive returned to Tesla dealership days later
A Florida man is accused of stealing a Cybertruck during a test drive last month, then returning to the dealership at a later date to retrieve his belongings, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Dexter Smithen allegedly went to a Tesla dealership in Tampa, Florida, on March 26 to test drive a Cybertruck Cyberbeast after meeting with a sales person, according to a criminal affidavit seen by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Smithen gave the sales associate his driver's license, which was confirmed to be his, and signed a test-drive agreement to return the truck to the dealership within 30 minutes of leaving, which he did not do, the document said. Attempts to reach Smithen through the number he wrote on the test-drive agreement were unsuccessful. The sales associate also emailed Smithen demanding the return of the Cybertruck. A different sales associate used geolocation tracking to locate the truck on March 31 and told deputies that Smithen drove it to a Home Depot, parked and went inside the store, the affidavit stated. That salesperson took cellphone video of Smithen walking in the parking lot before recovering the Cybertruck and reporting the crime to the HCSO. Smithen returned to the Tesla dealership on Tuesday to retrieve some of his items that he left in the Cybertruck, according to the affidavit. He was arrested at the business, and while he was being searched, a deputy said he found five credit cards with five different names. Smithen has been charged with grand theft of more than $100,000 and unlawful possession of personal identification.
