Eric Ramos switched his gas-guzzling truck for a Tesla Model S about six years ago.Ramos, 44, was tired of paying $60 to fill up his gas tank and wanted something a little faster. But amid recent incidents of vandalism against Tesla vehicles and dealerships spurred by anger toward CEO Elon Musk, Ram os is concerned that his vehicle may become a target. He said that could put him in a bad spot financially.Ramos and other longtime Tesla owners — including some who share anti-Musk sentiments — feel caught in the middle of the feud and think personal property should be off limits."Some people work hard for their cars, and not all of us are rich that own a Tesla," Ramos said. "I think it's idiotic for somebody to take it out on somebody else's property. That's like taking it out on somebody's home."Tesla's stock market value and reputation have taken hits since Musk joined President Donald Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Musk has been moving to slash the size of the federal government. Musk's support for far-right causes globally have also come under scrutiny. On the day of Trump's second inauguration, Musk made a stiff-armed gesture that recalled the Nazi salute.Calls for protests and boycotts of Tesla have followed. Related Elon Musk tries to help Trump by intimidating federal judges Tesla tumbles again as investors bail on Elon Musk’s suddenly struggling EV company Trump selects a new Tesla on White House driveway to show support for Elon Musk Across the country, authorities have reported incidents of vandalism against Tesla vehicles and dealerships. In Loveland, Colorado, two men were arrested on suspicion of using "an incendiary device" to commit vandalism at a Tesla outlet. This month, four Cybertrucks were destroyed in a blaze in Seattle, but authorities have not said if the fire was intentionally set. Last week, gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon.Trump has said that he would buy a Tesla to shore up the company's sales and last week sat with Musk in a red Tesla sedan on the White House grounds, where several models were displayed.“It's a great product,” Trump said. Referring to Musk, Trump said “we have to celebrate him.” Number one, it's a great product, as good as it gets—and number two, because @ElonMusk has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly… pic.twitter.com/6qrfwrbT0f— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2025 The Chicago area hasn't been immune to the Tesla backlash. Vandals tagged a new Tesla dealership in Buffalo Grove with graffiti over the weekend. A Tesla showroom in the Gold Coast has been the site of protests calling for people to ditch their Teslas.But the ire hasn't just been directed at Tesla properties.When Pablo Espinosa left work earlier this month he was met with an unwelcome surprise. His 2022 Tesla Model Y, which had been parked in the Humboldt Park area on the Northwest Side, had been vandalized.Someone had scratched a Spanish curse word into the hood. A Tesla dealership in Buffalo Grove was vandalized with graffiti over the weekend.Provided Insurance will cover the repair, but Espinosa had to pay a $500 deductible. He loves the car's technology but said he'd consider trading it for another vehicle if the vandalism continues."I wouldn't want to pay that deductible so many times," said Espinosa, 46, adding that he would end up losing money if he were forced to switch vehicles because prices for the Model Y have dropped since he bought his Tesla three years ago.He hopes those angry at Musk leave people's vehicles alone."I think you should be able to separate personal property from that," he said. "The people who own the property have nothing to do with what Elon did, and most of us bought the car before Elon went rogue." Pablo Espinosa’s Tesla was vandalized earlier this month when someone scratched a Spanish swear word into his hood. The image has been blurred. Espinosa paid a $500 deductible, but hopes the vandalism doesn’t continue.Emmanuel Camarillo/Sun-Times Eddie Zipperstein, owner of Richard's Body shop in Albany Park, said his store has serviced four vandalized Teslas in the last couple of months. The vandalism to those cars included damage from eggs and other thrown objects and one case where a Tesla was rammed from behind.Zipperstein, who owns a Cybertruck, says that though his vehicle hasn't been targeted he sees people's frustration's when he's on the street."I get the finger like literally once a day, and it's not because I drive like an idiot," Zipperstein said. He said he hopes people realize that "a car is not a political statement."Miguel H. said he's thinking about buying a sticker for the Model Y he's owned for three years to show he doesn't support Musk and keep his car safe, like many other Tesla drivers have done recently. He suggests more Tesla drivers do the same. A bumper sticker protesting Tesla CEO Elon Musk is shown on a Tesla Model 3. Backlash continues to grow over Elon Musk and DOGE’s slashing of federal jobs. Some may use the stickers to prevent vandalism.Justin Sullivan/Getty Miguel, who asked his last name be withheld for fear of becoming a target, is a photographer and also drives for Uber. He said he's noticed more people canceling rides on him recently, and he thinks it's because riders can see on the app that he drives a Tesla.Some passengers have told him they didn't want to get in his car because it's a Tesla and made assumptions about him as a person because of the car he drives.Once they get in his car, he says, "They talk to me, they calm down, and they realize 'Oh, he's just a guy,'" Miguel said.Though Miguel said he supports people's right to boycott and protest he thinks vandalizing personal property is counter-productive and can hurt residents. "Messing with people's property is not great, especially when the regular person is going through the same struggles, troubles and tribulation that everyone else is," he said.Contributing: Associated Press ...read more read less