HOBE SOUND — In an incident that has stunned the Hobe Sound community and perplexed law enforcement on Florida’s Treasure Coast, a man is under investigation after attempting to drive his Tesla electric vehicle into a closed restaurant to steal electricity for a charge.
According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, the bizarre crime occurred around 4:30 a.m. Monday at Harry and the Natives, a popular local eatery. Security footage reveals a man inside the locked dining room, rearranging furniture and unplugging a refrigerator—presumably to make space for his car and free up an outlet.
“This falls in the category of ‘You can’t make this stuff up,’” Budensiek said during a media briefing.
Security Footage Reveals Puzzling Behavior
Owner Harry MacArthur arrived later that morning to discover the dining room in complete disarray. “I show up and see all this stuff, and I’m going, ‘What’s going on?’” MacArthur recalled.
Upon reviewing the restaurant’s indoor and outdoor surveillance systems, the story only got stranger. The footage showed a man spending hours parked outside the restaurant, at one point rolling around on the ground before attempting to reverse his Tesla through the restaurant’s front entrance. The vehicle didn’t fit, and the man ultimately drove away—but not before leaving behind a crucial piece of evidence.
Key Clue: The Tesla Charger
In what may have been the blunder that sealed his fate, the suspect left behind his Tesla charger. Unlike a standard phone cable, Tesla chargers are serialized to the vehicle they come with, making them easily traceable. Combined with high-quality video surveillance from multiple angles, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office had no trouble identifying the man.
“Well, it wasn’t that difficult,” Budensiek said. “He left his charger there, and the charger is generally attached to the car, serialized to the car. Harry’s got videos of the whole restaurant.”
As of Thursday, no arrest had been made, but deputies have confirmed the suspect’s identity and indicated charges are forthcoming.
Restaurant Damage and Community Reaction
While the physical damage to the building was minor—mostly to the entrance area where the Tesla failed to enter—the disruption caused more significant losses. MacArthur reported that perishable supplies were ruined when the suspect unplugged a refrigerator to access the outlet.
Still, MacArthur has taken the incident in stride, emphasizing the emotional toll on his loyal patrons more than the physical damage.
“Everybody pushed back, all my customers,” MacArthur said. “You know, this is their place. This is their dining room. This is their living room.”
Sheriff Budensiek, however, stressed the seriousness of the crime.
“This is not harmless,” he said. “Imagine it being your house. Somebody pulling up to your house, pulling their car halfway into your house, trying to steal your electricity. It’s not harmless.”
A Sign of the Times?
While this case is uniquely strange, it highlights a growing tension in the era of electric vehicles: the demand for accessible charging infrastructure and the occasional desperation it can spark. According to a 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Energy, Florida ranks third in the nation for registered electric vehicles but has struggled to keep pace in public charging stations per capita.
Whether driven by desperation, confusion, or sheer audacity, this incident has left the Hobe Sound community unsettled—and left authorities with an unusual case study in the evolving landscape of energy theft.
As the investigation proceeds, locals are left asking the same question MacArthur posed the moment he walked through the door:
“What’s going on?”
For more strange news and verified local reporting, follow SFL.Media.
