Thieves Stole ‘Nvidia’ Trailers. They Got 20 Tons of Sand (www.wired.com)

On Thursday, two trailers from self-driving truck developer PlusAI, adorned with Nvidia logos, were stolen but later recovered by police in Newark, California. The thieves, who hooked their own cabs to the trailers, likely abandoned the haul after discovering that each one contained 20,000 pounds of sand, used by PlusAI for research and development testing. The incident underscores the growing trend of cargo theft targeting high-value tech goods, including computer chips and networking equipment. The event is particularly significant for the AI and autonomous vehicle sectors, highlighting vulnerabilities in the transportation of tech assets. It reflects the larger issue of increased thefts in the tech industry, with Verisk CargoNet noting a rise in incidents involving valuable cargo. Despite being secured with hand locks, the PlusAI trailers were easily breached, raising questions about security measures in place for transporting critical equipment. Fortunately, the trailers were recovered intact, marking a rare success in a landscape where many tech thefts remain unsolved.