$1.5 Million in Oculus VR Headsets Stolen by Thieves

Imagine this—a band of crafty thieves allegedly made off with a ton of Oculus VR headsets, targeting truck drivers who stepped away from their vehicles for a quick meal or a bathroom break. They would seize the moment to hop into unsuspecting trucks and drive away with them.

According to recent reports from 404 Media and Court Watch, a group of six men has now been indicted, accused of swiping semi-trucks loaded with expensive stuff, including underwear, ATVs, and top-end tech gear. Court documents reveal that these audacious heists were carried out across numerous states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Their strategy involved tailing semi-trucks from distribution centers to places like gas stations or truck stops. As soon as the driver stepped away—perhaps to fuel up, rest, or take a quick break—the thieves would pounce, making off with the semi-truck and all its precious cargo. They had the cunning trick of hitching the stolen trailer onto their own tractor truck, discarding the original vehicle.

One notable heist took place on May 6, 2022, when two of the men pinpointed a truck in Louisville, Kentucky, brimming with Meta Oculus VR headsets valued at an eye-popping $1.5 million. Allegedly, they nabbed this high-value truck from an Indiana truck stop and drove it to Vanderburgh County, ditching the tractor truck and escaping with the trailer.

In their attempts to fly under the radar, these men would reportedly paint over any logos or numbers on the stolen trailer and switch up license plates, hoping to evade law enforcement. Their nefarious activities weren’t limited to Meta’s goods, either. Reports claim they snagged products worth hundreds of thousands from brands like Microsoft, Sony, Logitech, JBL, and Bose.

The indictment indicates that much of this stolen bounty ended up sold in Florida, fetching just a fraction of its retail value—a massive operation that shows just how audacious and wide-reaching their plot was.