Cargo thieves are increasingly targeting the booming data center industry, with law enforcement in Illinois recently recovering trailers containing over $1.3 million in stolen data center supplies. The Cook County Sheriff’s office announced the recovery of two trailers filled with valuable equipment, signaling a new trend in organized retail crime.
Key Recoveries Highlight New Threat
Investigators were alerted to a trailer holding approximately $300,000 worth of copper wire spools, which had been reported stolen from Pine Hill, Alabama. Copper wiring is a critical component for the construction and connectivity of data centers. Following the discovery of the copper wire, the owner of the truck yard where the trailer was found informed investigators that the same individual who delivered the first load had dropped off another trailer a week prior.
This second trailer was also confirmed stolen, originating from Jacksonville, Florida. It contained an estimated $1 million worth of data center infrastructure equipment. The Sheriff’s office noted that the organized retail crime unit was involved in this operation.
Evolving Tactics of Theft Rings
Cargo theft traditionally impacts retailers, with criminals intercepting products destined for stores. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates that cargo thefts cost the industry as much as $35 billion annually. Theft rings have previously focused on valuable industrial metals like platinum, palladium, and copper.
The National Retail Federation has previously stated that criminal groups are continuously evolving their targets and tactics. The significant expansion in data center construction is now presenting a new lucrative opportunity for these criminal organizations.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
