A Buffalo Grove, Illinois woman has been arrested after allegedly vandalizing a newly constructed Tesla service center in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, authorities confirmed.
On March 14, Buffalo Grove police responded to reports of vandalism at the Tesla Sales, Service, and Delivery Centeron Dundee Road at approximately 4:07 p.m.. Upon arrival, officers took Erin L. White, 27, into custody. She has been charged with felony criminal damage to property (Class 4 Felony) and criminal trespass (Class B Misdemeanor).
Tesla properties—including dealerships, charging stations, and service centers—have increasingly become targets of protests and vandalism across the country due to CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This federal initiative is aimed at eliminating wasteful government spending and cracking down on fraud, but its aggressive cost-cutting measures have led to mass federal layoffs, fueling backlash from some political activists.
Just days before the Buffalo Grove incident, protesters gathered along Golf Road in Schaumburg, holding signs reading “Save Democracy” and calling for a boycott of Tesla. While Musk’s supporters praise his $2 trillion spending cut plan as a long-overdue effort to rein in Washington’s excesses, critics argue that his influence in government creates conflicts of interest and threatens Social Security and public health programs.
Buffalo Grove police have not released details about the extent of the woman vandalizing the Tesla center or the specific actions White is accused of committing. However, the incident highlights the growing political divide surrounding Musk’s role in government and the economic policies being shaped by the current administration.
