Lifestyle
How could Tesla’s Sentry Mode be taken more seriously by law enforcement?
Tesla’s Sentry Mode has been making headlines since it launched in February this year, capturing outrageous acts of vandalism, theft, and even a hit-and-run by a local politician. Despite the publicity, however, it doesn’t seem as though the unique security feature is necessarily moving things along on the legal side.
Police reports made by Tesla owners after becoming burglary victims are seeing long delays before investigations are made, if they are made to begin with. Altogether, this means that Sentry Mode isn’t necessarily giving Tesla owners any advantage over not having the feature at all. What can be done to change this?
One effective route thus far has been media attention. A burglary captured by Sentry Mode in April, for instance, was reported by a local ABC news station, and the suspect was arrested afterwards arguably in response to the public pressure surrounding the event. When the car’s owner originally turned the footage into police, he was simply informed that an officer “might” look into the incident. Of course, every incident can’t be handled this way, and it’s only the most egregious ones that capture enough interest for major media attention.
Obviously, judicial systems vary by region as do police policies and resources, all affecting the outcome of a break in report to include whether public attention is required for a quick result. A fair assessment should acknowledge these facts. But a tool like Sentry Mode should be able to deliver a more consistent legal result for Tesla owners using the feature – that is its primary purpose, is it not? Not only that, but if justice is served effectively based on Sentry Mode’s unique tools, it can finally have its desired effect of acting as a deterrent to thieves and other criminals made aware of Tesla cars’ video recording capabilities.
Here’s the scenario that’s playing out right now.
Imagine that your Tesla was broken into while you were out shopping. Your car’s app notified you of an intrusion, but you missed the thief getting away. Thank goodness you have a Tesla, you might think next. Sentry Mode recorded the entire event and the idiot who smashed your rear quarter window gave the car’s cameras a clear image of their face and the license plate of their getaway vehicle. You take the footage to the police where you expect an easy path to justice, except that’s not what happens.
“Someone will review your report in about 20-30 days,” an employee at the police station tells you when you file your theft report. If that’s not difficult enough to hear, others who’ve had similar instances with their Tesla vehicles confirm to you that they’ve had the same thing happen to them. This example isn’t fictional, either. A Tesla owner recently posted the experience on Reddit, detailing their frustration with getting a Sentry Mode video to the correct desk at their local police department.
The same Reddit user cited above proposed another solution for helping move these kinds of theft investigations along. Tesla’s app could provide a feature that automates the police report process.
In concept, following a criminal incident recorded by Sentry Mode, a programming script could run on the Tesla app to gather all pertinent information about the event. GPS data for the break in location, the owner’s name, address, and VIN number would be pulled first, then the owner could be prompted to add photos of the damage along with any witness information. A PDF or similar document would be generated, ready for printing and submission to the proper police authorities.
The Tesla owner would initiate this process with the push of a button on the car’s center touchscreen or from their phone. This solution is based on the idea that complete information in the hands of the right people might help to bring quicker legal results. Most of the tedious footwork would be done at an advantage to police.
Even better, police departments could adopt ‘dash cam friendly’ policies that made this type of reporting procedure seamless, perhaps providing a fax number, email address, or online submission form specifically for these types of events. The police department in Moorestown, New Jersey, for instance, already has an online reporting portal enabling the submission of anonymous tips, property damage, identity theft, lost property, retail crimes, and vehicle burglary reports, among others. A few experiences with the Sentry Mode reports would make it clear to authorities how much easier the cases were to investigate given the amount of information available, which could help bring better (and faster) legal results for the owners.
Expanding on that idea, perhaps a database containing reporting requirements and local police data could be maintained by Tesla owners as a community effort to make the feature more helpful and kept up-to-date. Many reporting forms are already available online, but copies of blank reports could be provided by local police departments to further streamline the data generated as suggested previously. The crafted app-made police report would be tailored for the police department local to where the break in took place.
This is something that would take time and effort, but once it became known that Tesla vehicles were being specifically targeted for theft, a major part of what drove the creation of Sentry Mode, the community came together to advise one another on preventing incidents, even compiling tip sheets on Internet forums and creating 3D-printable locking devices. It wouldn’t be a far stretch to see the community come together again to help bring justice for the break ins it previously worked together to prevent. A third-party app providing this report generation service is also a possibility.
The original rallying cry for a tool to help against break ins made its way up to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the response was eventually met with Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Perhaps a handy police report button is another possibility?
Lifestyle
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update
Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.
Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.
The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.
Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video
With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:
Turn your Tesla into a rave cave with the new Light Sync feature 🎶
Rolling out now in software update 2025.26+ pic.twitter.com/IIsQxZ9jDP
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 29, 2025
To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”
Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.
Elon Musk
xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area.
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs
Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.
In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.
“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.
Musk Foundation donation
Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students.
The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”
“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.
The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”
Lifestyle
EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.
A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.
The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry.
A strategic fit
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.
That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.
“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”
Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”
Enabling the next wave
Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.
“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.
The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.
Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.
In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”
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