Every Tesla owner knows the horror stories of returning to their EV to see a nasty scratch along the panel. That’s why the electric vehicles are fitted with cameras that rarely fail to capture so-called ‘keyers’.
But a recent example of a suspected keying incident that saw a postie publicly shamed to an audience of over a million on Instagram – and named by a local news outlet – offers a sobering lesson in the dangers of jumping to conclusions.
What began last month as a seemingly clear-cut case of vehicular vandalism took an unexpected turn this week following a lengthy investigation by the Daily Mail.
It all started on August 21 when Queensland model Ellie Gonsalves shared footage with her million-plus social media followers of an Australia Post worker in a hi-vis uniform approaching her car.
The vision – captured by the Tesla’s onboard security camera inside a private car park in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast – showed the man stepping out of a red delivery van, pulling out what looked to be a keyring from his pocket and making contact with the bonnet before walking off. The moment the key allegedly scratched the car wasn’t captured.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail’s new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
On August 21, model Ellie Gonsalves shared footage with her million-plus Instagram followers of an Australia Post worker in a hi-vis uniform approaching her car
The vision – captured by the Tesla’s camera – showed the man stepping out of a delivery van, pulling what looked to be a keyring from his pocket and making contact with the bonnet
No one was inside the car at the time, but Gonsalves, 35, said she received a notification via an app alerting her to a disturbance.
In her original post, Ms Gonsalves said she expected an apology and compensation for a ‘chip’ on the bonnet. She also claimed the alleged vandalism would have been captured ‘by every single security camera in this private lot’.
After asking her Instagram followers to help identify the man, she returned three hours later to reveal she had been provided with his name.
Online sleuths recognised the Australia Post worker as a former public figure who had retired from the spotlight and taken up work as a postie.
It appeared to be a straightforward case of Tesla vandalism – complete with a social media pile-on and local news coverage, including the man being named in a 9News Gold Coast bulletin.
But there are two sides to every story.
Daily Mail understands the postie denied damaging the car, but he was suspended pending an investigation. That investigation concluded this week with the postie being cleared and allowed to resume his duties.
‘Australia Post has conducted a thorough investigation into this matter and found the damage to Ms Gonsalves’ car was not consistent with a car keying incident,’ a spokesperson said on Monday. Daily Mail accepts Australia Post’s findings and does not suggest otherwise.
In her original post, Ms Gonsalves said she expected an apology and compensation for a ‘chip’ on the bonnet. Her reaction to the video was reasonable, but an investigation cleared the man
‘We have taken this matter very seriously and have reached out to Ms Gonsalves to update her on our investigation. Australia Post acknowledges Ms Gonsalves’ concerns about our team member’s approach to her car and has apologised to her for any distress caused by this conduct.
‘We have taken appropriate steps to address this matter with the team member involved, who has now resumed his duties with Australia Post.’
Queensland Police also conducted its own investigation, which has now been finalised with no charges laid.
Police told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that the vehicle’s registered owner – a male – ‘did not wish to proceed with a formal complaint’ because there was ‘no obvious damage’ to the vehicle.
It is understood that during the course of the investigation, other CCTV footage from the private lot was reviewed, as well as a photo of the car’s bonnet.
Queensland Police undertook its own investigation, which has since been finalised due to a lack of ‘obvious damage’
Daily Mail does not suggest Ms Gonsalves was in any way dishonest about the incident, and acknowledges her reaction to the video was quite reasonable.
When contacted for comment, her business manager Ross Scutts maintained there was a mark on the vehicle. Daily Mail has seen a photo of the bonnet, which had a visible chip on it, but no signs of a key scratch.
Scutts added that the car was not owned by Ms Gonsalves and was instead a rental that she was driving until her new vehicle was delivered.
He confirmed the registered owner chose not to take the matter further, and that Gonsalves had also withdrawn her report after receiving an apology.
On August 25, a Daily Mail photographer captured the postie near his home.
He appeared downcast, dressed in a blue zip-up sweater with the hood up and grey shorts, and later drove off in a vehicle that was not electric-powered.
We have chosen not to name him given that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
On August 25, a Daily Mail photographer captured the postie near his home. We have chosen not to name him given he has been cleared of any wrongdoing
He appeared downcast, dressed in a blue zip-up sweater with the hood up and grey shorts, and later drove off in a vehicle that was not electric-powered
