AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File
- A Tesla owner was able to thwart an attempted carjacking with his car's app by locking the intruder inside, police say.
- Cops arrested a 21-year-old in connection to the attempted theft, and detailed the case on Facebook.
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A potential car thief met an awkward end when he attempted to steal a Tesla Model 3.
Police in Barstow, California say 21-year-old Charlie Smith entered the suspect vehicle on the morning of May 8 and ordered the driver to exit the car. The driver complied, he told police, and then locked the vehicle with his iPhone until officers arrived to make an arrest.
"When officers placed [the suspect] under arrest, they observed that he was sweating profusely and was twitching and blinking his eyes rapidly," the department said in a Facebook post. He was charged with carjacking and violation of parole, according to county jail records. The latter of those charges is not eligible for bail and as of Wednesday morning Smith remained at the a detention center in San Bernardino.
It's not clear if Smith has an attorney who could comment on the case.
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See Also:
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- US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he agrees with Elon Musk that Tesla should be allowed to reopen its California factory
- Tesla reportedly loses another European vice president as it begins construction on Berlin factory
