By rssfeeds-admin Peter Katz told WGN News he walked out of his North Center home on Tuesday near 22nd and West Cullom, only to find an antisemitic sticker on the back of his red Tesla. Katz, who is Jewish, said he filed a police report and shared ring camera video and images with detectives.
“It’s just wrong that someone’s going out there and doing this in our neighborhoods for a choice that people make on a car,” Katz said.
The video showed what appeared to be a man carrying a bag while walking on the sidewalk, then to the back of the car.
“Someone put a swastika on our car, and then it had a sticker that said Heil Elon,” Katz said.
When Katz posted his ring doorbell video to social media, he said he heard from several other targeted Tesla owners in North Center. Another Telsa owner reported the same sticker on her vehicle in the 4100 block of N. Bell.
Peter Loge, a political ethics expert at George Washington University, said Elon Musk’s political moves are angering consumers.
“Consumers will take out their anger on his products,” Loge said. “It’s the wrong thing to do. It’s dangerous, and it’s counterproductive.”
This week, prosecutors charged 26-year-old Erin White of Buffalo Grove with felony criminal damage to property after allegedly spray painting a new Tesla service center on Dundee Road.
Nationwide, the country has seen several dealerships and charging stations targeted and some set on fire. On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced three people accused of using Molotov cocktails to set fire to electric vehicles in Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina each face federal charges. Bondi noted that she is treating such crimes as domestic terrorism.
Those convicted could face up to 20 years in prison.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about the uptick in Telsa vandalism.
“We’ve seen despicable and unacceptable violence taking place across our country at Tesla dealerships against workers, employees, and also innocent Americans who drive these vehicles,” Leavitt said. “It’s actually a scary time in our country because of this political violence from the left, and the White House and the president’s entire administration condemn it wholeheartedly.”
Also, on Thursday, Elon Musk announced that Tesla is ramping up security at all its showrooms and lots. Some Telsa owners have gone as far as to place stickers on their vehicles to fend off vandals. Katz, who bought his Tesla two years ago, said he is debating whether to keep the car, given the political climate.
“If it comes down to it, I might have to,” Katz said. “It’s going to be at a loss because, now, the value of the car is going to go down because everyone is trying to get rid of them: supply and demand.”
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