$1.5 Million in Oculus VR Headsets Stolen by Thieves

Recently, an audacious crime spree came to light involving the theft of numerous Oculus VR headsets. This operation was allegedly carried out by a group of men with a knack for choosing the perfect moment to strike. Their modus operandi involved waiting for truck drivers to take a break—be it for a quick meal or a restroom stop—and seizing the opportunity to commandeer the entire vehicle.

As detailed by reports from 404 Media and Court Watch, six individuals were charged after purportedly hijacking trucks loaded with valuable goods, ranging from luxurious underwear to ATVs and cutting-edge tech hardware. Court documents reveal that these crimes took place in several states across the U.S., including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana.

The group’s strategy was to surveil distribution centers. They would tail the trucks to rest areas, where they waited for the driver to step away. Once the coast was clear, they would make off with the semi-truck and its contents, leaving only the abandoned cab behind. Their next move was to connect the stolen trailer to their own truck and continue on their way.

A notable incident happened on May 6, 2022, when two members of this crew found a truck parked in Louisville, Kentucky. This truck was loaded with Meta Oculus VR headsets valued at an eye-watering $1.5 million. The pair allegedly swiped this high-value cargo from a stopover in Indiana, made their way to Vanderburgh County, and then abandoned the truck itself, driving off with just the trailer.

The indictment outlines how these men went to great lengths to avoid detection. They reportedly repainted logos and removed identifying numbers from trailers, swapping out license plates to obscure their identity from law enforcement. Their targets weren’t limited to Meta products—they also allegedly pilfered goods from big names like Microsoft, Sony, Logitech, JBL, and Bose, often valued in the hundreds of thousands.

Once secured, the pilfered merchandise was seemingly funneled to a buyer in Florida, where it was sold off for just a fraction of its market price. This revelation adds a dramatic layer to the narrative, shedding light on the shadowy underworld of tech theft and trade.