A Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says His Truck's Unconventional Door Saved His Life During an Armed Robbery – Adds "I Was Targeted Because I Drive a Cybertruck"

A Cybertruck owner from Oakland, California, says he was recently a victim of a violent armed robbery; however, thanks to his Cybertruck’s door, he says he’s alive to tell the story.

The Cybertruck owner who goes by the username EctoSlymer shared his story on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum.

Although EctosSlymer credits the Cybertruck for saving his life, he also adds that he was targeted for the armed robbery in the first place because he drives a Cybertruck.

The thankful yet frightened Cybertruck owner shared his story under the title “Has anyone been a victim of a violent targeted attack in a Cybertruck due to the perceived high value of the vehicle?”

The Cybertruck Owner continues to write…

“Last night I had a very illegal assault weapon pointed at my face for about three minutes straight as the perpetrator demanded I hand over money and property, being aggressively threatened multiple times that he was about to kill me and 'send me to heaven.”

He repeated these threats several times. I believe I was saved by my Cybertruck’s unconventional doors, which he couldn’t figure out how to open.

That and me somehow miraculously having money in my pocket three times in a row, as he repeatedly demanded that I have more money hidden and hand it over.

I handed him a lot of cash—probably around $500—on his first demand and genuinely thought I had taken all the money from my pocket. I don’t even know how I was fortunate enough to satisfy his demands the second and third times, reaching back into my pocket and taking out more cash each time, believing that I had given him everything the first time.

He was trying to get into the vehicle. This was like a horror show. It happened while I was lying in the back, cuddling with my dogs, my back windows were down, and the gunman had this assault weapon, pointed right at my face.

I truly thought my head was about to get blown off, and I was pleading for my life.”

This is truly alarming. Adding to the strangeness, the Cybertruck owner stated that during the robbery, the attacker revealed that he targeted him because someone had informed him about a person in a Cybertruck and suggested he pursue him.

That’s definitely concerning, and the Cybertruck owner continues to write…

“As all this was happening, the robber literally told me that he had been sent to me. In the midst of all this frenzy, he literally took the time to tell me that someone had alerted him to my vehicle being parked and sent him to me to perform violent armed robbery.”

Given all the anti-Tesla hate we’ve seen, this might seem like a politically motivated attack. However, the Cybertruck owner says his guess is that he was targeted because of the perception that the Cybertruck is an expensive vehicle; ergo, the owner is wealthy.

The Cybertruck owner continues to write…

“Apparently, I can only gather that what he meant is that my vehicle was perceived as expensive, and therefore, I was made a target. My assailant literally told me this.”

The Cybertruck owner continues asking the community if anyone has been targeted because of their vehicle.

He asks…

“Has anyone else been the target of violent crime while in their Cybertruck?”

Finally, the Cybertruck owner mentions that he could have lost his life if the perpetrator had figured out how to open the Cybertruck's unconventional doors.

He continues to write…

“I am truly amazed that I am alive right now. I truly don’t know why I was not killed last night. I may have these unconventional door openers to thank for my very life, but I was also definitely told by the gunman himself that I have the Cybertruck to thank for why I was targeted to begin with.

Stay safe, fam.”

This is definitely a scary situation, and looking at the comments, the first thing fellow Cybertruck owners wanted to know is whether he filed a police report.

In response, the Cybertruck owner claims he reported it. However, the Oakland police informed him that shootings frequently occur in the city and did not treat his situation with much seriousness, suggesting that he was better off than many others.

He continues to write…

“The useless Okland Police Department straight up told me that people get shot dead for nothing in this city. They told me, “You must still be here for a reason.” As though my outcome was rather anomalous.”

Another thing fellow Cybertruck owners focused on was how they would’ve reacted if they had found themselves in this situation.

Some Cybertruck owners advocated for carrying guns, others hoped for nonlethal means to stop the robber, and the rest described in detail what they would do to stop the criminal in this situation.

A fellow Cybertruck owner, Jay from Arizona, proposes that one way to thwart the gunman is to roll up the windows, effectively pinning his hands between the windows and the vehicle frame, and then drive away while possibly scraping the side of the vehicle against a wall.

Jay writes…

“If you are in the driver’s seat, the vehicle can also be used to protect you.

If you could deflect the aim of the handgun, you might also roll the window up until it won’t go any further, and while doing so, drive off, scraping the side of your vehicle along any solid object as you proceed forward or backward, or backward and forward as many times as needed until the handgun is no longer a threat to your life.”

This is certainly an interesting strategy. However, please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the RED “Add new comment” button below. Also, be sure to visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.

Image: Screenshot from Marques Brownlee’s YouTube channel

For more information, check out: A Cybertruck Owner Says He Took His Truck in for Service For a Minor Issue; However, Tesla Surprised Him With a New High-Voltage Battery Pack – He Adds, “I’m Happy I Got a Better Cybertruck Loaner”

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.