PlusAI reported that thieves stole two trailers emblazoned with its and Nvidia logos from its warehouse in California on Thursday. The trailers were filled with about 20,000 pounds of sand, used for testing autonomous truck technology. The theft occurred after the trailers were left unsecured with hand locks, which were broken by the thieves.
The company’s spokesperson, Lauren Kwan, said the trailers were recovered with "40,000 pounds of sand intact." The trucks themselves, which are equipped with AI-enabled technology, were not taken, as they were parked inside the warehouse. The incident is under investigation, and no arrests have been made, according to the Fremont Police Department.
"PlusAI uses simulated loads in its trailers to assist with research and development testing," said Kwan. The stolen sand was used to simulate real-world conditions for testing the autonomous systems. The trailers were recovered by police by Thursday afternoon, and returned to PlusAI.
The theft comes amid a rise in cargo theft targeting high-value tech equipment, including data center hardware and bitcoin mining machines. In August, WIRED reported on similar incidents where thieves targeted security escorts of high-value loads. The stolen equipment has not been recovered in some cases.
Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case remains under investigation, with authorities still searching for the thieves. The incident highlights the growing risks faced by companies in the tech and logistics sectors.
Source: wired
