A Tesla Cybertruck, recently delivered to a dealership in Mesa, Arizona, was set on fire in what authorities have classified as a case of suspected arson. Early Monday morning, April 28, the electric vehicle was engulfed in flames near Southern and Sossaman avenues. Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire before it damaged other units or the building, according to Fox News.
The suspect in the incident, identified as Ian Moses, 35, allegedly wrote the word “THEIF” (a misspelling of “THIEF”) on the dealership’s facade before setting the Cybertruck on fire.
According to Fox News, during the investigation, officers spotted a suspicious van nearby and observed a man on a bicycle approaching the vehicle. When he was intercepted, he was identified as Moses, who was later linked to the case after reviewing footage provided by the Tesla Security Center .
Mesa police, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, arrested the suspect and booked him into jail on charges of arson of a structure and private property. According to information received by ABC15, the investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be filed. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Wave of attacks against Tesla
This incident is not an isolated case, but rather part of a series of recent attacks against Tesla vehicles and properties across the United States. According to Fox News, similar incidents have been reported in Las Vegas, Minnesota, and Florida, where individuals have committed acts of vandalism, arson, and theft at Tesla dealerships. In one of the most high-profile cases, a 19-year-old college student was charged with setting fire to two Cybertrucks in Kansas City last March.
In another instance, a Las Vegas man faced federal charges after setting Tesla vehicles on fire and leaving the word “RESIST” painted on them, according to the Department of Justice. Explosive devices found at dealerships in Austin, Texas, have also been investigated.
Attorney General Pam Bondi called these acts “domestic terrorism,” stressing that those responsible, including potential financial and logistical coordinators, “will face severe consequences.”
This wave of violence against Tesla properties has been linked to Elon Musk and his role in polarizing public and political debates. However, there is no clear evidence directly linking the Mesa attack to these nationwide organized actions.
Authorities urged any citizen with additional information about the Arizona incident to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. So far, no specific connections have been established between this alleged arson incident and the other cases reported across the United States.