Latest news with #NovatoPoliceDepartment
American Military News
28-04-2025
- American Military News
Cybertruck vandal captured on camera in California, latest in spate of violent Tesla attacks
Ring camera footage captured the moment a masked vandal threw a rock at the windshield and slashed the tires of a Cybertruck in Novato, one of the latest in a string of nationwide attacks on Tesla vehicles and the second such incident in the small Bay Area city. The vandal struck around 4:22 a.m. Saturday, appearing to case the truck, which was parked in a private driveway, before returning at 5:41 a.m. to stage an attack, according to the Novato Police Department. The person covered one surveillance camera with duct tape but was filmed by a separate camera throwing a chunk of concrete at the car multiple times and cutting the tires, police said. The person left a handwritten message warning the driver to replace all tires as the car was unsafe to drive. The incident was the second recent attack on a Cybertruck in Novato. The prior Saturday, a different truck was vandalized around midday in a shopping center parking lot, according to Navato Police Sgt. Wes Carroll. The department does not believe the same person is responsible for both incidents, he said. With Elon Musk's controversial rise to power in the White House and subsequent gutting of government departments, his futuristic vehicles have gone from being largely adored by the left and clean-energy advocates to becoming a political punching bag and target of violence. In recent weeks, cars have been set ablaze with Molotov cocktails, shot with guns and defaced with spray-paint. U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi has called these acts of violence and vandalism 'nothing short of domestic terrorism' and threatened harsh consequences. 'The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences,' she said in a statement. 'We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.' Jason Bedell, who owns the Cybertruck attacked in Novato on Saturday, told local TV station KTVU that he believes the vandal's anger is misdirected. 'All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people,' Bedell told the station. 'They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles.' He is now personally offering a $25,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect, the station reported. The Novato Police Department is also seeking the public's help in identifying the vandals who targeted the local Cybertrucks and is asking Bedell's neighbors to check their cameras for any suspicious activity or vehicles between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday. As of Monday morning, the department was reviewing and following up on tips submitted by the public and had yet to make any arrests in connection with either incident, said Sgt. Carroll. In the nearby city of San José, a man was arrested March 17 for allegedly keying a Tesla parked in a Costco lot. San José Mayor Matt Mahan criticized the use of vandalism as a tool of political activism. 'If this crime was politically motivated, our residents can't be held accountable for something Elon Musk is doing 3,000 miles away,' he said in a statement on X, urging residents to voice their opinions at the ballot box and not in a parking lot. The Federal Bureau of Investigations issued a warning to would-be Tesla attackers after a man threw Molotov cocktails and shot at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, setting multiple vehicles ablaze. 'Specifically to those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it's a federal crime,' said Spencer Evans, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas bureau. 'We will come after you, we will find you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.' Musk, for his part, called the attacks 'insane and deeply wrong' in a statement on X. 'Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks,' he said. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cybertruck vandal captured on camera in California, latest in spate of violent Tesla attacks
Ring camera footage captured the moment a masked vandal threw a rock at the windshield and slashed the tires of a Cybertruck in Novato, one of the latest in a string of nationwide attacks on Tesla vehicles and the second such incident in the small Bay Area city. The vandal struck around 4:22 a.m. Saturday, appearing to case the truck, which was parked in a private driveway, before returning at 5:41 a.m. to stage an attack, according to the Novato Police Department. The person covered one surveillance camera with duct tape but was filmed by a separate camera throwing a chunk of concrete at the car multiple times and cutting the tires, police said. The person left a handwritten message warning the driver to replace all tires as the car was unsafe to drive. The incident was the second recent attack on a Cybertruck in Novato. The prior Saturday, a different truck was vandalized around midday in a shopping center parking lot, according to Navato Police Sgt. Wes Carroll. The department does not believe the same person is responsible for both incidents, he said. With Elon Musk's controversial rise to power in the White House and subsequent gutting of government departments, his futuristic vehicles have gone from being largely adored by the left and clean-energy advocates to becoming a political punching bag and target of violence. In recent weeks, cars have been set ablaze with Molotov cocktails, shot with guns and defaced with spray-paint. U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi has called these acts of violence and vandalism "nothing short of domestic terrorism" and threatened harsh consequences. "The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences," she said in a statement. "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes." Read more: Tesla attacks mark troubling twist in political violence as Musk divides America Jason Bedell, who owns the Cybertruck attacked in Novato on Saturday, told local TV station KTVU that he believes the vandal's anger is misdirected. "All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people," Bedell told the station. "They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles." He is now personally offering a $25,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect, the station reported. The Novato Police Department is also seeking the public's help in identifying the vandals who targeted the local Cybertrucks and is asking Bedell's neighbors to check their cameras for any suspicious activity or vehicles between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday. As of Monday morning, the department was reviewing and following up on tips submitted by the public and had yet to make any arrests in connection with either incident, said Sgt. Carroll. Read more: Tesla's steep fall from California's green darling to hated target of protests, violence, fires In the nearby city of San José, a man was arrested March 17 for allegedly keying a Tesla parked in a Costco lot. San José Mayor Matt Mahan criticized the use of vandalism as a tool of political activism. "If this crime was politically motivated, our residents can't be held accountable for something Elon Musk is doing 3,000 miles away," he said in a statement on X, urging residents to voice their opinions at the ballot box and not in a parking lot. The Federal Bureau of Investigations issued a warning to would-be Tesla attackers after a man threw Molotov cocktails and shot at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, setting multiple vehicles ablaze. 'Specifically to those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it's a federal crime,' said Spencer Evans, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas bureau. 'We will come after you, we will find you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law." Musk, for his part, called the attacks "insane and deeply wrong" in a statement on X. "Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks," he said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
01-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Cybertruck vandal captured on camera in California, latest in spate of violent Tesla attacks
Ring camera footage captured the moment a masked vandal threw a rock at the windshield and slashed the tires of a Cybertruck in Novato, one of the latest in a string of nationwide attacks on Tesla vehicles and the second such incident in the small Bay Area city. The vandal struck around 4:22 a.m. Saturday, appearing to case the truck, which was parked in a private driveway, before returning at 5:41 a.m. to stage an attack, according to the Novato Police Department. The person covered one surveillance camera with duct tape but was filmed by a separate camera throwing a chunk of concrete at the car multiple times and cutting the tires, police said. The person left a handwritten message warning the driver to replace all tires as the car was unsafe to drive. The incident was the second recent attack on a Cybertruck in Novato. The prior Saturday, a different truck was vandalized around midday in a shopping center parking lot, according to Navato Police Sgt. Wes Carroll. The department does not believe the same person is responsible for both incidents, he said. With Elon Musk's controversial rise to power in the White House and subsequent gutting of government departments, his futuristic vehicles have gone from being largely adored by the left and clean-energy advocates to becoming a political punching bag and target of violence. In recent weeks, cars have been set ablaze with Molotov cocktails, shot with guns and defaced with spray-paint. U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi has called these acts of violence and vandalism 'nothing short of domestic terrorism' and threatened harsh consequences. 'The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences,' she said in a statement. 'We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.' Jason Bedell, who owns the Cybertruck attacked in Novato on Saturday, told local TV station KTVU that he believes the vandal's anger is misdirected. 'All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people,' Bedell told the station. 'They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles.' He is now personally offering a $25,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect, the station reported. The Novato Police Department is also seeking the public's help in identifying the vandals who targeted the local Cybertrucks and is asking Bedell's neighbors to check their cameras for any suspicious activity or vehicles between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday. As of Monday morning, the department was reviewing and following up on tips submitted by the public and had yet to make any arrests in connection with either incident, said Sgt. Carroll. In the nearby city of San José, a man was arrested March 17 for allegedly keying a Tesla parked in a Costco lot. San José Mayor Matt Mahan criticized the use of vandalism as a tool of political activism. 'If this crime was politically motivated, our residents can't be held accountable for something Elon Musk is doing 3,000 miles away,' he said in a statement on X, urging residents to voice their opinions at the ballot box and not in a parking lot. The Federal Bureau of Investigations issued a warning to would-be Tesla attackers after a man threw Molotov cocktails and shot at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, setting multiple vehicles ablaze. 'Specifically to those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it's a federal crime,' said Spencer Evans, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas bureau. 'We will come after you, we will find you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.' Musk, for his part, called the attacks 'insane and deeply wrong' in a statement on X. 'Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks,' he said.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Masked Tesla vandal wrecks Cybertruck, leaves note for homeowner in attack caught on video
Police are searching for two suspects after a pair of Teslas were vandalized in separate incidents in a California community as attacks against the vehicles ramp up throughout the country. A Tesla Cybertruck was parked in a neighborhood driveway when the suspect, clad in black clothing with a white face mask, approached the home and began casing the surrounding area around 4:20 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Novato Police Department. Security footage shows the suspect returning to the home approximately one hour later, carrying a concrete rock and covering one of the truck's cameras with duct tape. The suspect proceeded to smash the windshield with the concrete rock and slash all four of the Cybertruck's tires, police said. Before leaving, the suspect wrote a handwritten note to the owner, reading "replace all tires, unsafe to drive." Vandal Strikes Cybertruck, Tesla Owner Hits Back "To come to my house and plan an attack like that, that person's dangerous and needs to face consequences for what they've done," Jason Bedell, the owner of the Cybertruck, told KTVU. "I'm a little [shaken] up right now, and I'm concerned that they may possibly come back, and it's not a good feeling, having my family here, my young son." Read On The Fox News App Bedell is offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the suspect's arrest. The incident comes after another Tesla vehicle was recently vandalized in the Novato area, according to police. "For somebody to come up here and do something like that is really unusual and very shocking," Bedell said. How Tesla 'Sentry Mode' Busts Attackers, And How Owners Can Enable It The Novato Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information. As attacks on Tesla vehicles become more prevalent throughout the country, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has declared the crimes acts of "domestic terrorism." "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism," Bondi said in a statement. "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes." Fbi Tells Tesla Owners To Be Vigilant As Authorities Pinpoint Their Focus To Stop Violence Last week, the FBI announced the formation of a new task force, established to "crack down on violent Tesla attacks" as vandals have targeted Tesla vehicles – and their owners – across the country, following a string of dangerous strikes. On March 17, two Cybertrucks were lit on fire at an Atlanta Tesla showroom, prompting an investigation by the FBI and ATF. Members of the bomb squad were called to a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas, last week, where law enforcement located multiple "suspicious devices." On March 27, Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly setting at least five cars on fire at a local Tesla Collision Center. Feds On Alert For Tesla 'Global Day Of Action' After Nationwide Violence Leads To Arrests WATCH: Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas set on fire with Molotov cocktails Over the weekend, thousands of anti-Elon Musk protesters descended on cities throughout the world to participate in a "Global Day of Protest" targeting Tesla vehicles, showrooms and charging stations. In light of the attacks, Bedell believes the vandals are misguided. Click To Get The Fox News App "All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people," Bedell said. "They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles." Tesla did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report. Original article source: Masked Tesla vandal wrecks Cybertruck, leaves note for homeowner in attack caught on video
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Fox News
Masked Tesla vandal wrecks Cybertruck, leaves note for homeowner in attack caught on video
Police are searching for two suspects after a pair of Teslas were vandalized in separate incidents in a California community as attacks against the vehicles ramp up throughout the country. A Tesla Cybertruck was parked in a neighborhood driveway when the suspect, clad in black clothing with a white face mask, approached the home and began casing the surrounding area around 4:20 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Novato Police Department. Security footage shows the suspect returning to the home approximately one hour later, carrying a concrete rock and covering one of the truck's cameras with duct tape. The suspect proceeded to smash the windshield with the concrete rock and slash all four of the Cybertruck's tires, police said. Before leaving, the suspect wrote a handwritten note to the owner, reading "replace all tires, unsafe to drive." "To come to my house and plan an attack like that, that person's dangerous and needs to face consequences for what they've done," Jason Bedell, the owner of the Cybertruck, told KTVU. "I'm a little [shaken] up right now, and I'm concerned that they may possibly come back, and it's not a good feeling, having my family here, my young son." Bedell is offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the suspect's arrest. The incident comes after another Tesla vehicle was recently vandalized in the Novato area, according to police. "For somebody to come up here and do something like that is really unusual and very shocking," Bedell said. The Novato Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information. As attacks on Tesla vehicles become more prevalent throughout the country, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has declared the crimes acts of "domestic terrorism." "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism," Bondi said in a statement. "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes." Last week, the FBI announced the formation of a new task force, established to "crack down on violent Tesla attacks" as vandals have targeted Tesla vehicles – and their owners – across the country, following a string of dangerous strikes. On March 17, two Cybertrucks were lit on fire at an Atlanta Tesla showroom, prompting an investigation by the FBI and ATF. Members of the bomb squad were called to a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas, last week, where law enforcement located multiple "suspicious devices." On March 27, Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly setting at least five cars on fire at a local Tesla Collision Center. WATCH: Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas set on fire with Molotov cocktails Over the weekend, thousands of anti-Elon Musk protesters descended on cities throughout the world to participate in a "Global Day of Protest" targeting Tesla vehicles, showrooms and charging stations. In light of the attacks, Bedell believes the vandals are misguided. "All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people," Bedell said. "They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles." Tesla did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
