Nvidia-Branded Trailers Targeted in Heist Turn Out to Contain Sand, Not GPUs
Thieves made off with two trailers belonging to autonomous trucking firm PlusAI, only to discover their high-value cargo was actually 40,000 pounds of sand.
PlusAI, a startup developing autonomous trucking technology in partnership with Nvidia, operates vehicles and trailers bearing both companies' logos. The distinctive branding apparently attracted criminal attention: according to reporting by Wired, two of the company's trailers were stolen and later recovered at a different location. The thieves' disappointment was swift—each trailer held 20,000 pounds of sand rather than the high-end AI accelerators they likely expected to find.
The incident reflects a broader trend of cargo theft targeting technology hardware. The explosive growth of AI data center construction has driven up prices for components including GPUs and RAM, creating lucrative targets for criminals. Startups and established enterprises building data centers and local AI infrastructure have become frequent targets, with theft operations ranging from opportunistic pilfering to coordinated heists. Earlier incidents have included the theft of copper cable and other hardware valued at $1.3 million, while some criminals have escalated to aggressive tactics—forcing security vehicles off roadways to steal entire truckloads of AI GPUs.