The Calgary Police Service is asking for the public’s help identifying a “person of interest” in connection with two separate incidents of Teslas being set on fire on March 18 and 19.
Tesla vehicles and dealerships in Canada and the United States have been targeted in recent weeks by protesters upset with company owner Elon Musk’s political activities.
Police said the person of interest is “believed to have information” about the two incidents. He is described as a man in his 30s with a heavy build, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was seen wearing a purple T-shirt with a blue hat and a black jacket.
Police said the first incident happened on March 18, between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.
A white 2023 Model Y Tesla was parked at a charging station near the owner’s home at 9:30 p.m. Around 11 p.m., the owner received a notification that the vehicle was no longer charging. When the owner looked out her window, she saw the car on fire, a police news release said.
The fire was extinguished by the Calgary Fire Department, who responded to the owner’s 911 call.
Related Stories
Calgary police said evidence at the scene indicated the fire was intentionally set with an accelerant.
The second incident happened on March 19, when Calgary police responded to a fire around 9:50 p.m. at a storage lot.
Police said a grey 2025 Tesla Cybertruck is believed to have been intentionally set on fire.
Police have advised Tesla owners who park in non-secure areas to put their vehicles in sentry mode, which engages the vehicle’s camera system so that any suspicious activity can be recorded. Vehicle owners will also be notified.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
In Hamilton, about 80 Tesla vehicles at a dealership were damaged on March 19, with some of the vehicles receiving deep scratches and having their tires punctured, police said at the time.
In London, Ont., emergency responders were called to a Tesla on fire in a parking lot on March 17. A 2025 4-door black Tesla S sustained “significant damage” estimated at around $140,000.
The Vancouver International Auto Show removed Tesla from this year’s event over security concerns, saying it made the decision out of concern for the safety of workers, attendees, and exhibitors.
