Data Center Cargo Thefts Top $100 Million in Four Months

Highway theft crews have stolen more than $100 million in data center freight since June.

The total includes servers, fiber optic cables, memory chips, and copper wires. Investigators told NBC News that the ring uses a sophisticated digital playbook to bypass security. The process begins when criminals hack into freight broker accounts on shipping platforms. They post fake listings to attract real bids from trucking companies. When a driver clicks a malicious link, the thieves install software that takes control of the account. The hijacked accounts then bid on actual shipments.

In some cases, a legitimate driver is hired to pick up the cargo without knowing they are part of a scam. In others, fake licenses are used to get accomplices hired. The goods are eventually handed over to a driver working with the thieves. This driver resells the equipment. In one of the largest incidents, the crew spoofed GPS coordinates to hide the truck from digital monitoring systems.

The stolen gear varies by location. In Illinois, two trailers contained only data center supplies. The Cook County Sheriff's Office valued the contents at $1.3 million. That total included $300,000 in copper wire spools and $1 million in custom power solutions equipment. In Los Angeles, the sheriff's department recovered cooling equipment bound for Deepcool AI. That truck also carried nicotine pouches, televisions, shoes, and cosmetics. Experts warn that the thefts affect more than just the AI sector because the cargo is mixed with other goods.

Law enforcement faces physical risks when escorting these high value loads. In two of the largest thefts identified by NBC News, off duty police officers hired to guard the shipments were targeted in hit and run accidents. None of the equipment from those two specific incidents has been recovered. The ring continues to operate using the same digital infiltration method across multiple states.