Model 3

Make
Tesla
Segment
Sedan

For years, electric vehicle owners have been mocked and now they've become the target of thieves because of their vehicles' highly valuable accessories. According to Dutch news website AD, a gang of professional criminals in Amsterdam and other parts of the country are stealing expensive charging cables that come with every new Tesla.

These 18-ft to 24-ft-long cables, according to a member of the Electric Riders Association, "will become the car radio of our time as thieves can so easily steal it." He added that "Two charging cables were also stolen from my place last week. Not while charging, but just out of the trunk."

Why are thieves so interested in these cables? Because they're valued up to 300 euros, or about $520. This is clearly an organized crime network that's currently very active.

"The police in Amsterdam South alone received 21 reports of stolen charging cables, mainly from Tesla drivers, between November 20 and December 4," the report states. "A new cable is pricey: between 200 and 300 euros. The thieves' motive is clear: second-hand the cables cost about 150 euros each. The thefts almost all take place at night."

The Tesla Model 3 appears to be the main target, which makes sense given it's the automaker's best-seller. But the big question is this: How are thieves managing to get away with their prizes since the cables are typically locked on the driver's side?

Some suspect this might be due to a cable defect caused by the cold weather. There have been past reports in several countries of owners experiencing difficulty removing the charging cable from the charge port. A software update was later released that supposedly fixed this problem, but some owners claim they've walked up to their locked vehicle in the ice-cold winter and the charging cable wasn't locked in place. The thieves might have somehow caught wind of this defect and are working fast before Tesla can issue another update. Perhaps the vehicles' Sentry Mode could catch them in the act and provide answers.

In the meantime, Tesla owners living in cold climates should take extra precautions until the issue is found and resolved.