Thieves Make Off with $1.5 Million in Oculus VR Headsets

In an audacious string of heists, a group of individuals allegedly made off with Oculus VR headsets and other high-ticket items by employing a daring yet cunning strategy. The thieves reportedly waited for truck drivers to vacate their rigs for quick breaks and would then seize the opportunity to commandeer the entire truck.

According to a recent article by 404 Media and Court Watch, these six individuals are now facing legal charges. Their spree allegedly included taking whole semi-trucks loaded with everything from luxury technology to ATV equipment and even underwear. Their actions are said to have spanned several U.S. states including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Their method was a patient yet brazen tactic. They would park strategically at distribution centers, trailing targeted trucks to rest stops or gas stations. It was here, while drivers were momentarily distracted with food or restroom visits, that the criminals struck. Swiftly commandeering the truck, they would then hook the purloined trailer to their own tractor-truck, abandoning the original vehicle at the scene.

On May 6, 2022, a particularly high-stakes theft occurred. Two members of the gang were reported to have found a truck in Louisville, Kentucky, packed with Meta’s Oculus VR headsets worth an estimated $1.5 million. They allegedly relocated it from Indiana to Vanderburgh County, abandoning the tractor but absconding with the trailer.

The indictment details how these crafty individuals took measures to obscure their actions. They often painted over logos and identification numbers on the trailers and swapped out license plates to slip through law enforcement’s grasp. Their targets weren’t limited to just Meta; they purportedly plundered goods from a variety of major players like Microsoft, Sony, Logitech, JBL, and Bose, amassing hauls valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It’s believed that they primarily offloaded their stolen merchandise to a Florida-based buyer, getting only a fraction of the items’ retail value in return.