2 trailers displaying PlusAI and Nvidia logos were stolen near a PlusAI warehouse in Fremont, California, but the haul turned out to be about 40,000 pounds of sand used for testing rather than valuable computer equipment.
The trailers were taken after being parked roughly half a mile from the warehouse. PlusAI employees alerted police to the likely reason the trailers may have been abandoned after they were opened: each contained about 20,000 pounds of sand serving as a simulated load for research and development work.
PlusAI spokesperson Lauren Kwan said the company uses these simulated loads in its trailers during testing. The trailers were recovered with the sand still intact, according to the Fremont Police Department.
What happened to the trailers
The trailers had been secured with hand locks, which were broken. The technology-equipped truck cabs normally used by drivers were parked inside the warehouse and were not taken, Kwan said.
The Fremont Police Department said officers went to the scene to help recover the trailers. Amy Gee, a department spokesperson, said the case remains under investigation and that no arrests have been made.
The trailers were back with PlusAI by Thursday afternoon, according to the police department.
PlusAI and Nvidia are working together on artificial intelligence software and autonomous truck technology. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cargo theft concerns
The incident occurred amid broader concern about theft involving high-value technology shipments, particularly chips and other electronics intended for data centers. Recent cargo theft targets across the United States have included metals, as well as enterprise-grade computer and networking equipment, according to Verisk CargoNet, an analytics and risk assessment firm.
Other reported targets this year have included Tesla batteries and bitcoin-mining machines. Authorities have made arrests in some cases, but many thefts remain unsolved.
Earlier California incidents involved thieves deliberately hitting vehicles used by security escorts accompanying valuable technology shipments. The trucks were then driven to another location, and millions of dollars of data-center equipment had not been recovered as of August.
Conclusion
The Fremont theft ended with the recovery of both PlusAI trailers and their simulated sand loads. The investigation continues, with no arrests reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What was stolen from PlusAI?
2 trailers bearing PlusAI and Nvidia logos were taken near a PlusAI warehouse in Fremont, California.
Q. What was inside the trailers?
Each trailer held about 20,000 pounds of sand used as a simulated load for PlusAI's research and development testing.
Q. Were Nvidia chips stolen?
The trailers contained sand rather than computer equipment, and 40,000 pounds of sand remained intact when they were recovered.
Q. Were the truck cabs taken?
No. PlusAI's technology-equipped truck cabs were parked inside the warehouse and were not taken.
Q. Were the trailers recovered?
Yes. The trailers were recovered and were back with PlusAI by Thursday afternoon.
Q. Have any arrests been made?
No arrests have been made, and the Fremont Police Department says the case is still under investigation.
Q. Why are technology shipments being targeted?
The theft occurred during a period of rising theft involving high-value computer equipment, including chips and electronics intended for data centers.
