The attempted robbery of a Tesla Model 3 was recently prevented due, in part, to some quick thinking, a helpful friend, and the Tesla mobile app. Thanks to the features available with the company's smartphone application, the rightful owner was able to find the Model 3 and help bring its captors to justice.
Tesla's Model 3 sedan is its most affordable option currently available, and sits as the most-sold electric vehicle of all time. The Tesla app is available on both iPhone and Android, allowing Tesla owners to use their login credentials to sync with their vehicle from anywhere. From the app, owners can track their vehicle, lock and unlock, warm or cool the car, in addition to a variety of other tools that provide almost full control of the vehicle.
According to Teslarati, the owner of the stolen Tesla is Annabelle Brett, a radio host from Australia. After noticing the Tesla app was sending multiple alarm notifications one morning before work, Brett checked on the vehicle only to realize that it was missing. Unluckily for the would-be robbers, Brett's Model 3 came with a feature called Sentry Mode which is a stealth version of its already built-in surveillance system. This acts as a quiet way for the EV to monitor its surroundings without the driver necessarily being aware. After quickly accessing the Tesla mobile app, Brett was able to utilize Sentry Mode to track the Model 3 and noticed it was just around the corner.
Teslas & Its App: Easy To Find, Hard To Steal
Annabelle Brett and friend quickly followed in pursuit while phoning the authorities along the way. In order to slow down the grand theft auto wannabes, Brett continued to utilize the app's features and have a little fun by proceeding to roll down the windows, activate the horn, and draw attention to the Model 3. It worked too; soon after, the thieves parked the Tesla to leave it, only to get caught on camera by Brett to show to the police. As if multiple pieces of video footage wasn't enough to damn the criminals, they also left their tool box and a driver's license in Brett's Tesla. According to Drive Tesla Canada, both thieves were identified and arrested, but this could have been a much less exciting (and less happy) story had it not been for Sentry Mode and Tesla's app.
Tesla has recently become the most valuable automaker in the world, expanding year after year. With that success, comes more of the company's vehicles on the roads and parked in garages globally. To that note, these EVs are clearly in a league of their own, not just in terms of clean energy, but in theft prevention. Having a vehicle as smart as Brett's Model 3, which is not only able to alert its owner that something shady may be afoot, but to continuously monitor the situation and relay what it is doing in real time, is tremendous. As a luxury feature alone, the Tesla app gives owners the ability to fully control their vehicle before they even get to it. Add a feature like Sentry Mode to that equation and Tesla owners should feel very confident that if anyone is trying to mess with their EV, they have a lot of tools at their disposal to help abate the situation.
Source: Teslarati, Drive Tesla Canada