Thieves stole trailers labeled for Nvidia and PlusAI, found 20 tons of sand inside

Two trailers bearing the logos of Nvidia and PlusAI were stolen and later recovered with 40,000 pounds of sand still inside, according to a police statement and PlusAI spokesperson Lauren Kwan. The trailers were emblazoned with the logos of both companies, which are collaborating on AI software and autonomous truck technology. PlusAI uses simulated loads in its trailers to assist with research and development testing, Kwan said.

The trailers were secured with hand locks, which were broken during the theft, according to Fremont Police Department spokesperson Amy Gee. The case remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident occurred amid a broader trend of rising theft targeting high-value computer equipment, particularly chips and other electronics destined for data centers, according to the report. In August, WIRED reported on two California incidents in which thieves targeted security escorts transporting high-value tech loads, driving the trucks to alternate destinations. As of August, millions of dollars’ worth of data center equipment had not been recovered.

Common targets of cargo theft in recent months across the U.S. include metals and enterprise-grade computer and networking equipment, according to Verisk CargoNet, an analytics and risk assessment firm. Other recent targets have included Tesla batteries and bitcoin mining machines, though authorities have made arrests in some cases while many crimes remain unsolved.

By Thursday afternoon, the sand-filled trailers had been returned to PlusAI, the Fremont Police Department said.