Tesla in Pasadena Accident: Driver Fled

[RDoc]

The owner of the Tesla is a friend of mine. The car was stolen from in front of his house about an hour before the crash. The thief totaled the Tesla and three other cars as well as killing a motorcycle driver. The car was going 100 mph at the time of the accident. The thief jumped out of the car and ran and is still on the loose. Very sad.

How did the thief steal it?

 

[ecarfan]

The owner of the Tesla is a friend of mine. The car was stolen from in front of his house about an hour before the crash.

Please enlighten us as to exactly how your friend's Tesla was stolen, if you can. Thank you.

 

[shokunin]

I've accidentally left my key in the car several times, which would be a likely scenario. A smash and grab type thief, only the car responds when the thief sits in the drivers seat to search through the car.

 

[GoTslaGo]

Older thread with better outcome. OP explains how he got his Tesla stolen and later recovered it himself via the App.

My S60 was stolen last night. I recovered it this morning thanks to the app

 

[hybridbear]

I've accidentally left my key in the car several times, which would be a likely scenario.

I did this for the first time this past weekend. I had been wearing a jacket because it was chilly in the morning, but eventually took it off & laid it across the back seat. I had put my key fob in a jacket pocket rather than a pants pocket. I discovered this when I came back from the grocery store & the handles didn't present as I walked up. I then reached for my fob in my pocket & it wasn't there. I've now learned to try to be more careful when walking away from my car to make sure the fob is with me.

 

[4SUPER9]

I have forgotten my fob in the car multiple times. Almost each time it was after having my car driven by a valet. I am much more diligent about it now.

 

[aesculus]

Sometimes when I go into a store I hand my fob to my wife who wants to stay in the car. She puts it in the tray and when I come back out I just forget about it because the car drives just like it does when the fob is in my pocket.

Generally the next day when I get ready to use the car I cannot find the fob and sure enough, it's in the tray. But in my case my car is safely locked in my garage, and not parked in the open.

 

[Rockster]

My wife once locked her purse in the trunk while we went into a cocktail reception, forgetting that she had her key fob in her purse. The car was thereby unlocked, in the parking lot of Top Golf, all evening.

 

[Max*]

The car was thereby unlocked, in the parking lot of Top Golf, all evening.

Nothing to worry about, everyone was too drunk to steal it.

 

[apacheguy]

Yeah key left in the car is pretty much the only way to steal a Tesla. There is no hotwiring or CAN communication that can easily be replicated.

 

[timk225]

This is why we should have the option of a PIN lock code on the digital dash, like in the 3 "The Transporter" movies. Key fob or not, no code, no go.

Forget your code? Call Tesla and go through a process of other identifying information.

 

[GoTslaGo]

This is why we should have the option of a PIN lock code on the digital dash, like in the 3 "The Transporter" movies. Key fob or not, no code, no go.

Forget your code? Call Tesla and go through a process of other identifying information.

I recall some folks have said they put to car in valet mode when they leave it.

 

[hybridbear]

I recall some folks have said they put to car in valet mode when they leave it.

They do that every time they park? That doesn't prevent it from being driven if the fob is left inside, though. I think @timk225 is suggesting additional validation of entering a PIN on the touchscreen before the car will drive even when the fob is present.

 

[GoTslaGo]

They do that every time they park? That doesn't prevent it from being driven if the fob is left inside, though. I think @timk225 is suggesting additional validation of entering a PIN on the touchscreen before the car will drive even when the fob is present.

I just recall some people had posted that they do that. All it does is limit the power on the car (max speed I think is around 80, with slow acceleration... so not so fun to drive). Different from @timk225's idea, but what is available now.

 

[jf2go]

I used to (unintentionally) leave a fob in the car frequently when I first got the car. I had one fob on my keyring (always in my pocket), and my wife had the other fob on her keyring (always in her purse). We would go out together in the Tesla, and she would leave her purse in the trunk out of view when we got out of the car at our destination. Then I had that "hey... wait a minute" moment a month or so into ownership. My wife no longer has the Tesla fob on her keyring

 

[somnambule]

I did this for the first time this past weekend. I had been wearing a jacket because it was chilly in the morning, but eventually took it off & laid it across the back seat. I had put my key fob in a jacket pocket rather than a pants pocket. I discovered this when I came back from the grocery store & the handles didn't present as I walked up. I then reached for my fob in my pocket & it wasn't there. I've now learned to try to be more careful when walking away from my car to make sure the fob is with me.

This is why I always put my keys in my pants pocket. I'm fairly conservative (at least in these sorts of things) and *highly* unlikely to get out of the car without my pants.

 

[WannabeOwner]

My wife no longer has the Tesla fob on her keyring

Dang ... I was expecting the alternative answer;

"I now leave my wallet in the trunk when we go out together"

 

[ecarfan]

Still hoping to hear just how the Tesla this thread is about was stolen...

 

[apacheguy]

Have the police apprehended the thief?

 

[K-MTG]

Does this hack work on Tesla's:

Can someone copy the remote signal and use it to unlock the car? I know for sure they won't be able to drive because of the OBD port only supplies power.