Kansas City Tesla dealership increases security as FBI task force investigates threats

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Drivers ing a Tesla dealership in south Kansas City may notice something a little different.

A large security camera stands outside the dealership near W. 103rd Street and State Line Road.

The dealership is the same location where, according to the FBI, Molotov cocktails were used to burn two Cybertrucks last week. The investigation into the crimes is underway, according to Kansas City’s FBI office.

The added security comes as the FBI announced a task force to investigate Tesla vehicle fires and fires at charging stations.

“This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.

OTHER INVESTIGATIONS

The FBI said it received 48 reports of damage to Teslas and charging stations in March alone.

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This is a list, provided by the FBI, of the incidents under investigation this month.

• Kansas City, Mo.
  • Two Molotov cocktails used to damage two Tesla Cybertrucks
• Seattle
  • Tesla Cybertruck set on fire in a storage lot
  • Charging station damaged
  • Battery station set on fire and vandalized
• Littleton, Mass.
  • Seven Tesla charging stations set on fire
• Austin, Texas
  • Tesla vehicles burned by Molotov cocktails
• Las Vegas
  • Teslas set on fire and damaged by gunfire
• Tigard, Ore.
  • Shots fired at Tesla dealership
• San Diego, Calif.
  • Tesla dealership and Teslas damaged with graffiti

FBI TASK FORCE

The FBI confirmed 10 agents will work on the new task force. The task force will also include special agents and intelligence analysts from the ATF and Treasury Department. Agents from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and Domestic Terrorism Operations Section will also be included on the task force.

Stephen King lives near the dealership and looked out his window to the two massive security camera towers.

“Maybe that will stop the vandalism,” King said.

King said what was normally a quiet neighborhood has now been interrupted.

“There are protesters, which we can deal with,” King said, “but it’s escalated.”

Residents tell KCTV5 that people have been parking in front of their homes and going to the dealership. Others said their windows shook when the two Cybertrucks caught on fire. “The police came by and wondered if my front door camera had picked up anyone parking or walking over there to the Tesla lot,” King said.

The Kansas City Police Department said that within the last month, 17 incidents have been reported at the dealership.

“Putting the cameras up that they have now, and having surveillance on it, I think it will deter more people,” said nearby resident Lucy Comiskey.

Comiskey is all for the added security but questions the FBI task force.

“The federal government does not need to step in,” Comiskey said. “Our local government, our local police can investigate just like they do every other crime.”

King doesn’t mind the task force; he just hopes the crime will stop.

“This is a quiet neighborhood; it thrives on being a quiet neighborhood. I hope that it can keep that personality,” King said.

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