Musk Activates Sentry Mode on Tesla Store Vehicles to Identify Vandals | Carscoops

      Musk shared the news following a Tesla investor's suggestion to employ security guards at company stores.

      Sentry Mode utilizes the exterior cameras of a Tesla to record surrounding events.

      While the feature is useful, it has faced criticism for draining the electric vehicle’s battery.

      Recently, more than 80 Tesla vehicles were damaged at a facility in Canada.

      Tesla has made its position clear regarding vandalism at its facilities in the United States, implementing a new strategy: activating Sentry Mode on all cars present at its showrooms. This decision comes in response to a rise in targeted attacks on Tesla vehicles, both domestically and internationally. With this additional surveillance, the company aims to capture offenders in action.

      Just the day before, a notable Tesla investor and supporter recommended enhancing security by hiring 24-hour security personnel at all showrooms and service centers across the U.S. and Canada—at least until the situation stabilizes. Elon Musk promptly replied, confirming that Tesla had "increased security" and activated Sentry Mode on every vehicle at its locations.

      The Advantages of Sentry Mode

      While Musk did not provide details about other security measures that Tesla is implementing, the activation of Sentry Mode appears to be a wise decision. This system employs the exterior cameras on all Tesla models to continuously film the environment around the vehicle. It has been significantly beneficial for owners, capturing vandals and thieves in action. Anyone intending to harm Tesla vehicles at a site might unknowingly be recorded in the process.

      However, in true Musk fashion, publicly announcing this strategy may present a double-edged sword. Now that vandals are aware of Tesla's precautions, they may take steps to cover their identities to avoid recognition. It could have been more effective to keep this security enhancement discreet until the system successfully identified a few offenders.

      Tesla has increased security and activated Sentry Mode on all vehicles at its stores—Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025.

      While Sentry Mode can act as a deterrent, it is not without its drawbacks. A major concern is its impact on battery life. Tesla has not officially disclosed how much battery Sentry Mode consumes, but independent assessments suggest it may drain between 10-15% of the battery daily. As a result, Tesla will need to ensure that the vehicles in their custody are frequently charged, especially with the goal of maintaining the security system continuously operational.

      Fortunately, Tesla recently rolled out an update that reportedly decreases battery drain by approximately 40%, which could help relieve some of the pressure on its service centers to keep vehicles charged.

      This announcement of the new measure follows an incident in Hamilton, Ontario, where over 80 Tesla cars sustained damage at a dealership. Reports indicate that the vehicles were scratched and had punctured tires, underscoring the growing necessity for security at Tesla locations.