A 26-year-old man in St. Petersburg, Florida, test-drove a Tesla Cybertruck and failed to return it, keeping the vehicle for two days before causing extensive damage. Richel Valdivia smashed parts of the truck with a hammer and left unusual items inside it. He now faces felony charges for grand theft and criminal mischief.
Last month, Richel Valdivia, a 26-year-old resident of St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida, visited a local Tesla dealership for a test drive of a Cybertruck. Instead of returning the vehicle, he drove it to his home and retained possession for two days.
An assistant manager at the dealership tracked the Cybertruck to Valdivia's house after it failed to return. Upon arrival, the manager discovered significant damage, estimated at around $20,000. The destruction included a smashed rearview mirror, a removed GPS unit, a ripped-off sun visor on the driver's side, and partially torn front fenders. Adding to the bizarre nature of the incident, Valdivia had filled the fenders with landscaping rocks and several pairs of men's underwear.
Tesla vehicles are equipped with cameras, and footage from the Cybertruck captured Valdivia striking the vehicle with a hammer. This evidence contributed to his arrest by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Valdivia faces felony charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief. The incident highlights the risks associated with test drives, as dealerships typically require identification and monitor vehicles via GPS to prevent such occurrences.