If you own a Tesla, you might be unintentionally involved with a crime scene if your vehicle was parked nearby

Oakland Police Are Towing Teslas For Crime Scene Footage

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2024-09-03 21:30:37

If you own a Tesla, you might be unintentionally involved with a crime scene if your vehicle was parked nearby

Modern cars are full of sensors and cameras, primarily used to support their sophisticated ADAS systems. However, as proven by numerous cases, this footage can also help solve crimes. The Oakland Police Department has reportedly towed numerous Tesla vehicles that happened to be parked near crime scenes, to look for evidence in their Sentry Mode footage.

While the EVs – and their owners – are usually unrelated to the incidents, video footage from the scene can be quite important for the case. The police usually asks for the owner’s permission to access their Tesla’s Sentry Mode backup USB drive which is located in the glove box, and download the desired content. However, if the owners can’t be located, officers obtain search warrants and tow the EVs into evidence.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Oakland police sought to tow at least three Teslas in July and August, showing that this is now part of their established tactics.