Tesla Owners Not Your Enemy, Say Vandalism Victims
Tesla owners across Colorado are speaking out against a troubling wave of vandalism targeting their vehicles, as politically motivated attacks against the electric car company continue to escalate nationwide. A recent letter to the editor in The Denver Post captured the sentiment of many Tesla drivers who purchased their vehicles long before CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration sparked a backlash.
“Maybe you found the car in a parking lot, or after dark in front of someone’s home. Heads up! You are hurting your fellow citizens who bought a Tesla for their own reasons, mostly environmental awareness, maybe well before this administration,” the letter writer pleaded. The message reflects growing concerns among innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of political protests against Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Alarming Pattern of Vandalism and Arson
Colorado has become a hotspot for Tesla-related vandalism, with multiple serious incidents reported since January. According to Denver Post reports, a Tesla dealership in Loveland has been targeted at least five times this year, including multiple arson attempts involving incendiary devices.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with these attacks. Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, of Lyons, faces multiple state and federal charges after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at vehicles and spray-painting “Nazi cars” on the dealership building. A second suspect, Cooper Jo Frederick, 24, of Fort Collins, was arrested in March on suspicion of arson and possessing explosives after police found an incendiary device at the scene of a fire.
The incidents in Colorado mirror similar attacks across the country, which have prompted the FBI and U.S. Attorney General to classify the vandalism as “domestic terrorism.” Federal prosecutors are seeking up to 20 years in prison for those convicted in these cases.
Tesla Owners Taking Precautions
The vandalism has sparked fear among Tesla owners throughout Colorado, with some taking extraordinary precautions. Josh Beamer, a Colorado Springs resident who has owned his Tesla since 2019, told The Gazette that he now carries a handgun in his car for protection.
Other Tesla owners are taking less drastic measures, such as affixing bumper stickers to their vehicles that distance themselves from Musk’s politics. Mark Blum and Molly Moss, both Tesla owners in Colorado Springs, have added stickers expressing progressive political views to their cars in hopes of avoiding targeted vandalism.
Despite these precautions, some owners have decided to sell their vehicles altogether. “Mark Blum loves his Tesla, but with all the recent backlash against CEO Elon Musk and his electric-vehicle company, the Colorado Springs resident will not be keeping his car,” The Gazette reported.
Nationwide Pattern of Attacks
The incidents in Colorado are part of a broader pattern documented by Wikipedia, which has created a dedicated page tracking Tesla vandalism in 2025. The attacks have occurred across multiple states and countries, with incidents reported in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, among other locations.
Insurance companies have begun responding to the trend, with some suggesting rate increases specifically for Tesla vehicles. The Wikipedia entry notes that “compared to the average rise in cost of 10% to insure US vehicles, the Model Y has risen 29% and the Model 3 has risen 24% from 2024 to 2025.”
The attacks have reached such cultural prominence that they were even referenced in a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, where Elon Musk (played by Mike Myers) introduced a “fully self-vandalizing” Tesla vehicle equipped with “AI-powered graffiti.”
Legal and Social Consequences
Law enforcement agencies across the country have ramped up their response to Tesla vandalism. According to the Associated Press, President Trump has suggested that perpetrators be sent to prison in El Salvador, while the FBI has assembled a task force to investigate the incidents as domestic terrorism.
Despite Musk’s suggestions that the vandalism is coordinated, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have stated they could not find evidence that the attacks have been organized. Instead, they appear to be spontaneous expressions of political frustration.
As the vandalism continues, Tesla owners and community members alike are calling for a more nuanced understanding of the situation. The Denver Post letter writer concluded with a simple plea: “Think before you act against your fellow citizens. What you did is a crime, the same as the felons who lit fire to Teslas at the dealership.”
