Man arrested for stealing Tesla Cybertruck during test drive

In Tampa, Florida, a man named Dexter Smithen was arrested for allegedly stealing a Tesla Cybertruck during a test drive. On March 26, 2025, Smithen visited a Tesla dealership, met with a salesperson, and test-drove a Cybertruck Cyberbeast. He provided his driver's license, which the salesperson confirmed, and signed an agreement to return the vehicle within 30 minutes. However, he failed to bring back the vehicle within the agreed time and went missing. Attempts to contact him through the phone number provided on the test-drive agreement were met with failure as the number was disconnected. Subsequently, multiple emails were sent by the sales associate demanding the return of the vehicle, but Smithen did not respond. On March 31, another salesperson utilized geolocation tracking to locate the Cybertruck, which Smithen had parked at a Home Depot. The salesperson observed Smithen and captured video evidence of him walking in the parking lot. This led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle being reported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Smithen’s actions culminated in his return to the dealership on April 1, 2025, wherein he claimed he went back to retrieve his belongings left in the Cybertruck. Unfortunately for him, he attracted the attention of law enforcement during this visit. A deputy discovered five credit cards bearing the names of different individuals in his possession, which led to his arrest. Smithen is now facing charges of grand theft over $100,000 and unlawful possession of person's identification. With the situation escalating quickly, Smithen's actions around the theft and the subsequent arrest underline the ramifications of his behavior and the legal consequences he now faces.