Thieves Targeting Nvidia-Branded Trailers Discover They Stole 20 Tons of Sand Instead of Chips

Wired•Published: Sep 26, 2026 02:00 AM IST

Thieves in Newark, California, stole two trailers branded with Nvidia and PlusAI logos, likely expecting to find high-value computer hardware inside. Upon breaking the hand locks and opening the trailers, the perpetrators discovered they had stolen 40,000 pounds of sand used by the company for autonomous vehicle testing. The trailers were quickly recovered by police, and the investigation into the attempted cargo theft remains ongoing.

Simulated Loads: PlusAI utilizes heavy sand loads in its trailers to conduct research and development testing for its autonomous truck technology.
Theft Attempt: The suspects bypassed warehouse security to hook their own cabs to the trailers, which were parked outside the facility.
Police Recovery: Fremont police located the abandoned trailers after an acquaintance of a PlusAI executive spotted the vehicles and sent a message.

The Context & Background

This incident occurs amid a broader trend of organized cargo theft targeting high-value electronics and data center equipment across the United States. Companies have increasingly faced sophisticated attempts to intercept shipments of chips and batteries, leading to heightened security measures for tech-related logistics.

Why it matters:This failed heist highlights the growing vulnerability of tech supply chains to organized crime. As thieves increasingly target high-value hardware like AI chips, companies are forced to implement more robust security protocols to protect sensitive equipment from sophisticated cargo theft rings.

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