---
title: "Tesla’s Sentry Mode Caught Someone Vandalizing a Model 3"
description: "Tesla's Sentry Mode recorded what appears to be a woman keying a Model 3, and the footage reportedly helped police find and arrest the vandal."
date: "2019-04-01"
modified: "2019-04-01"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/tesla-sentry-mode-caught-vandal-model-3"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Tesla"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "Model 3"
  - "sentry mode"
  - "tesla"
---

# Tesla’s Sentry Mode Caught Someone Vandalizing a Model 3

![Tesla's Sentry Mode recorded what appears to be a woman keying a Model 3, and the footage reportedly helped police find and arrest the vandal.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/tesla-sentry-mode-caught-vandal-model-3.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Tag Hartman-Simkins\</em\>*

## On Guard

Tesla has [no shortage of haters](<https://cleantechnica.com/2018/07/01/the-many-tesla-haters-attackers-are-short-on-time/>), and we all know [haters gonna hate](<https://youtu.be/nfWlot6h_JM>) — but at least one Tesla hater might have to pay for their harbored hostility.

On Friday, Tesla diehard Rafael Santoni posted a [video](<https://youtu.be/geiC13IGsx4>) to his YouTube channel featuring footage of a woman apparently dragging her key across his friend's Model 3 — and because the car had Tesla's new Sentry Mode feature enable, she's now [reportedly](<https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-keyed-sentry-mode-video/>) facing vandalism charges for the incident.

https://youtu.be/geiC13IGsx4

## Sound the Alarm

Following an [increase in vehicle break-ins](<https://electrek.co/2019/01/16/tesla-vehicles-target-break-ins-solutions/>), Tesla introduced a [Sentry Mode](<https://www.tesla.com/blog/sentry-mode-guarding-your-Tesla>) for its vehicles in February.

When enabled, the system uses the vehicle's external cameras to keep an eye out for potential threats, such as a person leaning on the car. Once Sentry Mode detects a potential threat, the cameras begin recording.

If the threat escalates to break-in level, the vehicle sounds an alarm and begins blasting music — specifically Bach’s Toccata and Fugue, by [CEO Elon Musk's directive](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1089354757188120578>).

## Pay the Price

According [to *Teslarati*](<https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-keyed-sentry-mode-video/>), a third-party body shop told the Tesla owner the damage caused by the incident would cost $900 to repair, but no word on whether the alleged vandal will be forced to pay those costs.

Her motivation behind the attack isn't clear, either. The Model 3 owner said he didn't recognize her, so this might just be [one more example](<https://futurism.com/tesla-superchargers-iceing-trucks>) of someone taking their issues with Tesla out on the company's customers.

But this time, thanks to Sentry Mode, she might not get away with it.

**READ MORE:** [Tesla Sentry Mode catches deliberate attack against Model 3, vandal arrested](<https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-keyed-sentry-mode-video/>) \[*Telsarati*\]

**More on Sentry Mode:** *[Elon Musk: A “360 Degree Dash Cam” Will Soon Keep Your Tesla Safe](<https://futurism.com/tesla-sentry-mode-dash-cam-360-degree>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)