Are Teslas in Wichita targeted for vandalism? Here is what police data shows

Tesla vehicles and dealerships have been vandalized in spots across the world after owner Elon Musk assumed a key role in U.S. President Trump’s administration earlier this year.

It happened on March 20 in Wichita to a Wellington family out to eat. The family says the vandalism was politically motivated.

Despite that incident, Tesla vandalism hasn’t been a problem in Wichita, according to police data. Vandalism of the family’s car is the only case so far this year.

One Tesla was also vandalized last year in Wichita from Jan. 1 through April 1.

Chevrolets, Fords and Kias are much more likely to be vandalized; they were the Top 3 during the first three months of 2024 and 2025. There were 192 Chevrolets vandalized during that time in 2024; 139 in 2025. Ford went from 185 to 148. Kia also dropped off from 125 to 83, according to Wichita police data.

There were 1,165 reports of vandalism during that time in 2024 and 895 in that time period for 2025.

It’s unclear how many Teslas are registered in Wichita; the Kansas Department of Revenue did not respond to a March 27 inquiry. But a 2024 article in Car and Driver Magazine, which used 2023 registration data obtained by Experian, showed the top makes/models registered in Kansas, in order, were Ford F-150s, Chevrolet Silverado 1500s and then Honda CR-V.

In Wichita, Hondas were the eighth most vandalized in the first three months of 2024, with 44; in 2025, they were sixth with 54, the police data shows.

When it comes to Tesla vandalism, Wichita police say the sentry mode that records when there is a threat to the vehicle is a safety feature that can help protect them.

“If a person owns a Tesla, we encourage them to learn if their vehicle is equipped with this feature,” police said in an email.

The sentry mode is what led to a suspect being arrested and charged after the Gill family found their Tesla Model X keyed when they left the Olive Garden in west Wichita.

Those cameras are the reason the Gill family has a Tesla. They say it has nothing to do with politics.

The cameras allow Teslas to have an automated driving function, which Abigail Gill uses to help her drive more easily. The 18-year-old uses a wheelchair because of spinal muscular atrophy.

The cameras showed a man leave the restaurant, key their vehicle, go back in and then leave and key it again. It also caught his license plate, Gill said.

Johnathan F. Erhart, a 30-year-old man of Jefferson County, has been charged with criminal damage to property. A number associated with his was disconnected, but one associated with a family member was answered Tuesday and then hung up.