Key facts
- Cargo thieves are now targeting data center supplies.
- Investigators recovered over $1.3 million in stolen equipment.
- The stolen items included copper wire and infrastructure equipment.
- The recovery occurred at a Chicago-area truck yard.
- This trend coincides with a boom in data center construction.
A new trend in cargo theft has emerged, with thieves now targeting supplies destined for data centers. Investigators recently recovered over $1.3 million worth of stolen data center equipment, including copper wire and various infrastructure components. The recovery took place at a truck yard in the Chicago area. This incident is significant as it represents a shift in the types of goods being targeted by cargo thieves, coinciding with a substantial boom in data center construction across the nation. The increased demand for data centers has led to a greater volume of specialized equipment being transported, making these shipments potentially lucrative targets for criminal operations. The recovery of such a large sum of equipment suggests a sophisticated operation was underway. Authorities are likely to increase surveillance and security measures around data center supply chains in response to this development.