A 46-year-old man was arrested after allegedly attempting to access a Tesla parked at an open-air car park near Marina Bay, with police reportedly recovering a signal transmitter device from him.
The incident happened on the evening of 13 June while a group of friends were attending the GastroBeats food and music festival at Bayfront Event Space.
The Tesla owner, a 39-year-old woman identified as Zhang Yi Li (transliterated), had parked her vehicle nearby and activated Tesla’s Sentry Mode before leaving.
Tesla Alert Sent Directly To Owner’s Phone
According to Lianhe Zaobao, At around 7.23pm, Zhang received a notification on her phone indicating suspicious activity around her vehicle.
Initially, she assumed someone had simply mistaken her Tesla for another car, as she had experienced similar incidents before.
However, she decided to head back to the car park to investigate.
After reviewing the footage captured by the vehicle’s cameras, she discovered a man loitering around her Tesla and allegedly attempting to open one of the doors.
According to reports, the man spent approximately 45 minutes moving around the area and repeatedly returning to the vehicle.
Police Called After Man Continued Loitering
Even after Zhang returned to the car park, the man reportedly remained nearby for another 10 minutes, frequently looking towards her vehicle.
Suspecting he could be targeting unlocked vehicles, she contacted the police.
Officers arrived about 10 minutes later.
The man allegedly attempted to flee but was eventually arrested at the scene.
Signal Transmitter Device Found
The Singapore Police Force confirmed they received a call for assistance at 11 Marina Boulevard and arrested a 46-year-old man for attempted theft.
Police investigations are ongoing.
According to Zhang, officers later informed her that a signal transmitter device had been found on the suspect, although further details were not disclosed.
She suspects the device may have been used to interfere with wireless locking systems, potentially preventing vehicles from locking properly.
However, authorities have not publicly confirmed how the device was intended to be used.
Reminder For Drivers Not To Leave Valuables In Plain Sight
Zhang also believes her vehicle may have been targeted because several bags were visible on the rear passenger seats.
The incident serves as a reminder that even in Singapore, vehicle owners should avoid leaving valuables in plain sight and should ensure their vehicles are properly locked.
Modern features such as Tesla’s Sentry Mode can provide an additional layer of security by recording suspicious activity and sending real-time alerts to owners.
Do you rely on technology like dashcams and vehicle security systems, or do you think motorists should still take extra precautions regardless of how safe Singapore is?