Can a Tesla Be Stolen? Straight Answers

Teslas aren’t as theft-proof as you might believe. 

Last November, two Model S cars were stolen in Oslo, Norway. The police have started looking into the situation and have warned all Tesla owners that their cars may be targeted by professional thieves. There have also been numerous reports of stolen Teslas in the US. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 112 out of 115 stolen Teslas were recovered in 2018. Though Tesla has taken the necessary steps to make its vehicles more secure, that won’t stop criminals from trying to exploit any weaknesses in the system.

What Makes Teslas Vulnerable to Theft?

Teslas come with a key fob that enables owners to automatically lock or unlock their vehicles from three feet away when passive entry mode is enabled. Criminals have found a way to hack the key fob and virtually boost its signal to another location near the vehicle. They can replicate passive entry mode even though the key fob is far away and then use a GPS blocker to prevent owners from tracking their hacked Teslas. 

Tesla recommends disabling passive entry mode when the vehicle is parked in public spaces and storing the key fob in a secure holder that blocks radio-frequency identification (RFID) signals to prevent relay attacks. Tesla has also released software updates to mitigate hacking and other software breaches.

What Could Be the Motive Behind the Theft?

There’s a high demand for Teslas in 2022. If you wanted to buy a base Model Y, for example, you would have to wait a full year to get it. The price increase and production backlogs haven’t deterred customers from placing orders for new Teslas. It’s no wonder thieves are taking risks to steal these vehicles. However, thieves are less likely to keep Teslas intact because they can easily be traced through the Tesla app.

German police found a dismantled Tesla Model S inside a truck near Germany in 2017. They were able to trace the Tesla back to the Netherlands where a stolen Model S was reported four days prior. The thieves might have dismantled the vehicle to evade detection by the app. However, the police aren’t quite sure how the vehicle was stolen in the first place. 

Stolen Teslas Can Be Recovered

Teslas are loaded with security features that make them easier to track and recover. They have a camera-based security system, as well as a dashcam and a PIN feature, which can discourage less technologically-savvy criminals from breaking in. Tesla owners can also download an app to access and control their cars if they’re stolen. 

However, it won’t take long before criminals find new ways to steal Teslas. That’s why you should invest in home security equipment, such as cameras, sensors, and alert systems. You could also be targeted by fraudsters online through phishing scams soliciting your personal information. Securing your home and online accounts can potentially deter criminals from stealing your Tesla.