Owner speaks out after pensioner arrested for scratching Tesla Cybertruck

Jess Battison
2026-03-22T16:04:19.665Z
Community

Genuinely named Karen, she was allegedly caught on the Tesla surveillance system

Karen Cooke Lewis was reportedly arrested on Tuesday (17 March) after she appeared to damage a Tesla Cybertruck.

The 67-year-old was caught on camera allegedly scratching the vehicle with a board of nails in Collettsville, North Carolina, US.

And the owner of the Tesla, Jason Hooper, spoke out as he shared surveillance footage from the car shortly after the incident took place on the Sunday.

According to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the woman was arrested and charged with misdemeanour damage to property. She was said to have been taken into custody and placed in the Caldwell County Detention Centre under a $1,000 (£750) secured bond. This was posted and she was released after about an hour.

Investigators said it was quick to identify the suspect thanks to Hooper’s Cybertruck’s onboard camera system.

Yes, her name's Karen. (Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office)

He took to social media with the video, claiming on Facebook that the vehicle was damaged at a local park not long after 11am and that he’d reported it to the police.

“A masked woman walking two dogs off leash scratched the truck with a board containing nails, then placed the board under my tire hoping I’d run over it. She also placed an aluminium sign under another tire (like it would do something?),” he claimed

“I honestly thought we were past the ‘vandalise Teslas because they’re Teslas’ stage… apparently not.”

It’s reported that Lewis has not yet entered a plea for the charge made against her.

But she’s very much gone viral online thanks to the social media footage, her mugshot and well, her name.

Users have been quick to point out the fact that she’s called ‘Karen’, adding a bit of irony to the alleged incident.

“It had to be Karen,” one joked as another put: “Taking the Karen game to another level.”

Others also added that there are less ‘expensive’ ways to let out your ‘frustration’.

She was arrested and charged. (Jason Hooper/Facebook)

As carheads will know, Tesla Cybertrucks feature some rather intense security settings.

When they are in Sentry Mode, the vehicle’s cameras remain powered on, ready to record any suspicious activity around it while locked and in Park.

The Cybertruck basically has a whole 360-degree surveillance, with multiple cameras – on the tailgate, in each door pillar, two on the windshield above the rear-view mirror, above each front wheel and above the grille on the front bumper.

So, if you’re going up to one and giving it a scratch, there are multiple angles that the surveillance might catch you – even with a face mask on.