‘Disgusting’: Elderly man caught on camera keying Tesla in NSW carpark

An elderly man has been filmed engaging in a bizarre act in a carpark, wracking up thousands of dollars in damage.

An elderly man has been slammed over a “disgusting” car park act after he was caught on camera keying a stranger’s Tesla in broad daylight.

The car’s owner, David Shannon, has asked the public to help identify the man after he damaged his car at a carpark outside Woolworths in Queanbeyan, on the ACT-NSW border, on Thursday.

“Is anyone familiar with this man? He keyed my car at Woolworths,” Mr Shannon wrote alongside a video of the incident in a local Facebook group.

In the footage, the elderly man can be seen walking past the electric vehicle while holding out a set of keys in his left hand.

After scratching the car, he stops and turns back at the Tesla, appearing to inspect the damage for a few moments before walking off.

The elderly man was caught on camera keying the vehicle last week. Picture: Facebook

He was seen walking past the car while grasping a set of keys in his left hand. Picture: Facebook

In the Facebook post, Mr Shannon confirmed his car was not parked in a disabled spot at the time, referencing a disabled parking sign next to his vehicle.

“The disabled parks are to the right, as the arrow on the sign indicates,” he clarified in the post.

“This is not going to be a cheap fix and I’d love the opportunity to ask him nicely what drove him to this.”

Mr Shannon told Daily Mail he was left with $3,000 in damage.

While it’s not known what drove the man to allegedly key the car, the owner speculated the elderly man might simply have issues with electric vehicles.

The man appeared to inspect the damage before walking off. Picture: Facebook

The driver was left to fork out $3,000 to repair the paint. Picture: Facebook

Many online were quick to blast the man and his decision to seemingly pause and “admire” the damage.

“Can’t believe someone would do that!” one person wrote.

“This is absolutely disgusting,” another wrote.

“It’s scary that he stands back to admire his handy work/damage! Almost proud of himself,” another speculated.

“Seems to be pretty happy with his handy work. Stops to have a good look so no accident,” said another.

Others urged the driver to take the footage to police and report the incident.

“He needs to be held accountable and pay for the damage to the car,” one person wrote.

“This man should be ashamed of himself and be accountable for his actions. He gives baby boomers a bad name and bad reputation!” said another.

NSW Police told news.com.au officers have launched an investigation following reports of a motor vehicle being damaged at a shopping centre on Crawford Street, Queanbeyan.

Anyone with information or CCTV footage is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The incident comes months after an elderly man with a walking stick was caught on camera appearing to key a car in a busy Melbourne shopping centre earlier this year.

Footage shared on social media showed the man appearing to drag a key along the side of the vehicle in the DFO Uni Hill carpark at Bundoora on March 3.

Over in Brisbane, another 70-year-old man was charged last year after he was allegedly caught on camera keying a white BMW and a Tesla.

Security footage from the damaged Tesla’s on-board cameras allegedly captured Raymond Edwards scratching the vehicles before glancing around to check for onlookers, at inner north Brisbane’s Brookside Shopping Centre in Mitchelton.

At the time, the unnamed Tesla owner told 7News they had been quoted almost $2000 for repairs.

News.com.au has contacted Mr Shannon for comment.

Originally published as ‘Disgusting’: Elderly man caught on camera keying Tesla in NSW carpark