The Tesla Model 3’s ‘Sentry Mode’ has already caught a number of thieves in their tracks but this clip of a Model 3 theft caught on camera is perhaps the most brazen we’ve seen yet.
This particular clip was filmed in Mountain View, California while the owner of the Tesla sedan was at a nearby coffee shop. It reveals just how efficient some burglars are while also revealing just how dim-witted many of them also are.
The video starts out by showing a Honda Accord reversing into a parking space next to the Model 3. After quickly assessing the scene, the passenger of the Honda opens the rear and front passenger’s side doors in tandem and puts his hood on. He then sneaks up to the side of the sedan and breaks one of the side windows.
Also Read: Tesla Model 3’s Sentry Mode Captures Two Men Keying Car
When initially watching the video, we thought maybe the burglar opened the rear passenger door to hide his identity from the side-facing cameras of the Tesla. However, he shows his face on several occasions and it seems more likely that he opened the rear door in a bid to shield himself from view of people in the area.
After looking around the cabin for a little while, the man scurries back into his car as he notices someone driving off in the parking lot. When the coast is clear, he returns to the Tesla and breaks a second side window and just moments later, emerges with a large backpack. The man, and his accomplice driving, then leave the scene.
The owner of the Tesla says the video was supplied to local authorities who used the footage to identify the man but they have yet to be caught.