High-Value AI Hardware Targeted in California Cargo Thefts
California highways have seen a spate of high-profile cargo thefts targeting millions of dollars worth of AI data center hardware. The stolen shipments were en route from Silicon Valley to Southern California.
Multiple high-profile cargo thefts targeting millions of dollars worth of artificial intelligence (AI) data center hardware have occurred on California highways in recent months. The stolen shipments were reportedly en route from Silicon Valley to Southern California, with the involved trucks still missing.
The incidents come amid a backdrop of rising cargo theft losses in the U.S. and Canada, which doubled to $304.6 million in the second quarter of 2026. Particularly, Nvidia servers subject to export controls are fetching nearly double their retail price on the black market.
Investigators believe sophisticated tactics were employed, including disabling security escort vehicles through rear-end collisions or PIT maneuvers. In some cases, the thieves used federal registration details of recently acquired transport companies to pose as legitimate carriers before absconding with the cargo. Data from Verisk CargoNet indicates that while the number of supply chain thefts in the U.S. and Canada decreased by 26% to 677 incidents in Q2 2026, the total estimated loss surged to $304.6 million.
Enterprise-grade computing and networking equipment are primary targets. Many valuable hardware shipments are transported without specific security measures. Intelligence suggests a significant portion of the stolen components are being exported, with export controls on AI hardware driving black market prices potentially higher than official retail prices for certain components.