A frame from a video showing a man breaking the mirror off a Tesla in Downtown Long Beach. Courtesy Stephen Richie.
A frame from a video showing a man breaking the mirror off a Tesla in Downtown Long Beach. Courtesy Stephen Richie.

A small business owner from Long Beach is asking for help after he says he caught a man on camera vandalizing his Tesla Model X.

Stephen Richie posted video from his car’s security system showing the man apparently struggling to put on his watch and unsteadily ripping off the Tesla’s mirror before tossing it aside.

https://twitter.com/S_RichieX/status/1216152498529923072

“It’s bizarre behavior,” Richie said. “I have no clue why he targeted my car (especially the mirror). There was nothing inside of my vehicle.”

The car was parked in a garage near Third Street and Pine Avenue, Richie said. He discovered the vandalism and reported it Saturday afternoon.

Police said it appeared the crime had occurred some time the previous night. Richie said he’s disappointed nobody intervened when his alarm started going off.

Police are still investigating but so far haven’t arrested anyone, LBPD spokeswoman Shaunna Dandoy.

Richie, who runs a small private tour company and drives for Uber and Lyft, said the repairs could cost almost $1,000 based on an early estimate.

Jeremiah Dobruck is managing editor of the Long Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected] or @jeremiahdobruck on Twitter.