A Dallas man strategically parked next to a Tesla to capture potential car thieves on camera, and it worked. “Seeing that is scary,” he told WFAA.
DALLAS — A Dallas man says he purposely parked his Dodge Charger next to a Tesla before going into a movie, hoping the vehicle’s cameras would capture anyone who tried to break into his car.
That’s exactly what happened.
The Tesla belongs to a WFAA employee who was also at the theater. The vehicle’s cameras recorded three people targeting the Dodge Charger in the parking lot.
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The car’s owner, Raul, asked WFAA to use only his first name because of safety concerns.
The video shows one suspect walking up to the car and removing a window in seconds before climbing inside while two others stand nearby. The footage appears to show the suspects using a specialized device in an attempt to steal the vehicle. Raul believes they were trying to program a new key.
“They popped it in less than a second, hopped in and connected it with a special tool,” Raul said. “I don’t know what they were using.”
When Raul returned to his car after the movie, he found shattered glass, loose wires and the fuse box cover lying on the floor.
“As soon as I got out, I noticed my car window was broken,” he said. “There was a bunch of glass on the floor, and my fuse box cover was on the floor. A bunch of wires were hanging out.”
A glass repair technician later found the horn fuse had been removed.
“The fuse for the horn, so it wouldn’t alarm anyone nearby — they took that,” the technician said.
Raul said his Charger is equipped with two kill switches, which he believes prevented the thieves from driving away with the car.
“I have two kill switches just in case,” he said. “They would not have been able to take it no matter what.”
The video also appears to show one of the suspects carrying what looks like a firearm with an extended magazine as the group leaves the parking lot.
“Seeing that is scary,” Raul said. “I’m glad I didn’t come up to them when they were trying to take my car.”
Although two of the suspects covered their faces, the driver was not wearing a mask. The Tesla cameras captured a clear view of the driver’s face as the group left the parking lot.
Raul said this is the second time someone has targeted his Dodge Charger.
“They are highly wanted. Nice cars, look nice, sound nice,” he said.
Dallas police are investigating the attempted vehicle theft. WFAA has shared the surveillance video with investigators in hopes it will help identify the suspects. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Dallas police.