Tesla owners can now activate a security measure called “Sentry Mode” on their vehicles, which helps deter or bust threats in the wake of widespread vandalism targeting Elon Musk’s electric car company. When enabled, Sentry Mode keeps the cameras and sensors powered on to record suspicious activity nearby.
Here’s how it works: when activated, Tesla vehicles with Sentry Mode will pulse their headlights, sound an alarm, and display a warning message on the touchscreen if a threat is detected or if the vehicle’s sensors pick up “jerky movement.” The owner will also receive an alert on the Tesla mobile app, and footage of the event will be saved to a USB drive.
Tesla’s security measure has been highlighted after nationwide incidents targeting electric vehicles, dealerships, storage lots, and charging stations in protest of Musk. Since January 2025, at least nine states have reported attacks involving arson, gunfire, and vandalism. Three individuals have already been charged with federal crimes related to these attacks.
While Sentry Mode can help deter some threats, Tesla warns that no security system can prevent all attacks. The feature is disabled by default but can be activated through the car’s touchscreen, Tesla app, or voice command. To use it, owners must park their vehicle and lock it while keeping the battery life above 20%.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/how-tesla-sentry-mode-busts-attackers-how-owners-can-enable