2 Teslas set on fire in Calgary this week, police say
Vandalism against the EV manufacturer have multiplied since owner Elon Musk was appointed to oversee DOGE
Two Tesla vehicles were set on fire in what Calgary police believe are separate, intentional incidents this week.
Acts of vandalism against the electric vehicle manufacturer have multiplied since U.S. President Donald Trump took office and appointed Elon Musk to oversee the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been slashing government spending and programs.
Investigators say they believe the two fires are connected.
Calgary police say at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a woman parked her Tesla Model Y at a charging station near Cowboys Casino in southeast Calgary.
At about 11 p.m. she received a notification that her car was no longer charging. When she looked out the window of her apartment, she saw her Tesla on fire.
The Calgary Fire Department extinguished the fire and officers say based on the initial evidence collected, it is believed the fire was intentionally set using an accelerant.
A day later, just before 10 p.m., police say officers were called to a Tesla storage lot near Fairmount Drive S.E. and Farrell Road S.E., for reports of a vehicle on fire.
Investigators say a grey 2025 Tesla Cybertruck was believed to be intentionally set on fire with an accelerant.
As police look into the incidents, investigators recommend Tesla owners put their car in sentry mode when their vehicle is parked in a non-secure area, if the feature is available to them. Sentry mode uses the vehicle's camera system to record suspicious activity around it.
The incidents in Calgary come in the wake of a Tesla dealership being vandalized in Montreal, 80 Teslas being damaged at a Hamilton, Ont., dealership, and the Vancouver International Auto Show removing the U.S. electric carmaker Tesla from its event over safety concerns, among others.