Imagine this: a cunning group of individuals allegedly made off with a haul of Oculus VR headsets by waiting until truck drivers stepped away from their vehicles for a meal or restroom break, then seizing the opportunity to hijack the unsuspecting rigs.
According to reports by 404 Media and Court Watch, these six men were indicted for allegedly pilfering semi-trucks laden with everything from clothing to ATVs and high-tech gadgets. This audacious crime spree reportedly spanned several states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana.
Their modus operandi was surprisingly bold. They scoped out distribution centers, trailing semi-trucks to rest stops. When a driver took a break, the thieves would swoop in, taking control of the entire truck and its valuable cargo. Once they had secured their loot, they would transfer the trailer to their own truck, abandoning the stolen cab.
On May 6, 2022, two of these crafty individuals reportedly honed in on a truck in Louisville, Kentucky, loaded with Meta Oculus VR headsets worth a staggering $1.5 million. They purportedly snatched it from an Indiana truck stop, driving to Vanderburgh County, where they left the tractor behind, keeping the trailer for themselves.
The indictment reveals they took measures to disguise their stolen trailers, painting over logos and changing license plates to evade authorities. Meta wasn’t their sole target, either. Companies like Microsoft, Sony, Logitech, JBL, and Bose also fell victim to their crafty escapades, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in goods.
The stolen items, it seems, ended up sold for a mere fraction of their market value, finding their way to some buyer in Florida. Quite a heist, leaving behind a trail of affected businesses wondering how such an operation could unfold under the radar.
