(KRON) -- A man was caught on camera vandalizing a Tesla at a Costco parking lot in San Jose. The video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows a man wearing a USA jacket park his Hyundai SUV next to the Tesla.
He then appears to take his key and use it to scratch the right side exterior of the vehicle.
The incident happened at the Costco located on Senter Road between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, March 14, according to the Tesla owner. The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) announced Monday night that the man has been arrested. Police said he is the individual responsible for "this act of felony vandalism."
3.9 magnitude earthquake reported in East Bay"This senseless crime and its subsequent consequences should serve as a clear reminder: no matter one's personal beliefs or frustrations, they do not justify illegal actions," SJPD Chief Paul Joseph wrote in a statement.
The act of vandalism also prompted San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan to speak up. He says damaging Teslas is not the answer -- even if you disagree with the actions of the company's CEO Elon Musk.
RELATED: This car model continues dominance in CA sales for third straight year"Keying a car because you don’t like the person who designed it is like breaking a clock because you don’t like the time it shows. If this crime was politically motivated, our residents can’t be held accountable for something Elon Musk is doing 3,000 miles away," Mahan wrote on social media. "I want to thank (SJPD) for finding the person responsible and urge us all to voice our opinions where they matter — at the ballot box, not in a parking lot."
In the past, Mahan has defended Tesla when Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a California electric vehicle tax credit should the Trump administration cut EV federal tax credits. Newsom's proposal would've likely excluded Tesla from the rebate. Mahan said the governor's proposal had "no economic rationale" and was a "political stunt."
The act of vandalism comes during a time Tesla owners in the Bay Area and nationwide are being targeted because of the recent controversy surrounding Musk. Tesla owners in San Francisco are being urged to sell their vehicles as flyers across the city are being posted, which read "sell your swasticar."
Fremont District 4 Councilmember Yang Shao said last week his Tesla was vandalized in a similar incident to Friday's. His electric vehicle was "keyed by someone," the elected officials wrote on his social media page.
San Franciscans need highest amount to be considered ‘wealthy,’ ‘financially comfortable’ in US: surveyThe video was posted on a news aggregator account on Sunday and has garnered more than 615,000 views on X.
Throughout the country, Tesla cars and dealerships have been vandalized. Gunshots were fired at a dealership in Oregon, and a fire destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.
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