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<\/p>\nIn a situation that sounds more like a security camera blooper than a routine police call, a Los Angeles Police Department officer is under investigation after allegedly taking more than $700 from a parked Tesla while responding to a call.<\/p>\n
According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, the officer has been placed on administrative leave while the department reviews the incident. The officer\u2019s identity has not been publicly released.<\/p>\n
Security Cameras Tell the Story<\/p>\n
The alleged theft didn\u2019t come from speculation… It reportedly came from video footage.<\/p>\n
Security recordings captured the officer opening the door of a Tesla and leaning into the vehicle multiple times while his partner was nearby taking a report related to the call. At the time, the officer was working an overtime shift with the department\u2019s Transit Services Division.<\/p>\n
Anyone familiar with Teslas knows they\u2019re basically rolling surveillance systems. Between built-in cameras and nearby security footage, the odds of quietly rummaging through one are about as good as trying to do a burnout in front of a car meet without someone filming it.<\/p>\n
A supervising officer later reviewed the video and reportedly saw the officer searching through the vehicle without an official reason to do so.<\/p>\n
A Suspiciously Convenient Camera Issue<\/p>\n
The situation became even more questionable when investigators reviewed the officer\u2019s body-worn camera.<\/p>\n
Footage from the device reportedly shows that it had been turned off before the officer began going through the car. In modern policing \u2014 where body cameras are supposed to document interactions \u2014 that detail immediately raised red flags.<\/p>\n
In other words, the only camera that wasn\u2019t recording just happened to be the one attached to the officer.<\/p>\n
The Owner Notices the Missing Cash<\/p>\n
Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n
The Tesla\u2019s owner eventually noticed that more than $700 was missing from the vehicle and went directly to the police station where the officer works to report it.<\/p>\n
After reviewing the security footage, supervisors confronted the officer about what they saw.<\/p>\n
According to reports, the officer acknowledged taking the money. However, he reportedly claimed that he intended to log the cash as evidence but simply forgot to do so.<\/p>\n
That explanation raises an obvious question: evidence of what?<\/p>\n
Authorities have said there was no official justification for searching the Tesla in the first place, and there\u2019s no indication that the cash was connected to any crime.<\/p>\n
Administrative Leave, But No Charges Yet<\/p>\n
For now, the officer has been placed on administrative leave while the department investigates what happened. Despite the admission and the video evidence, criminal charges have not been announced.<\/p>\n
The incident reportedly occurred in the southern part of Los Angeles, where the officer is assigned.<\/p>\n
Internal investigations like this can take time, especially when departments review body camera data, witness statements, and policy compliance. But the situation has already drawn attention because of the unusual circumstances; namely, a police officer searching a vehicle without cause and allegedly pocketing money along the way.<\/p>\n
A Reminder About Modern Cars<\/p>\n