‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Cargo Thefts Have Turned Violent in Pursuit of AI Hardware

Cargo theft involving high-value technology has escalated to violent levels as thieves target shipments of artificial intelligence (AI) hardware traveling from Silicon Valley to Southern California. Law enforcement authorities learned about these incidents from Pachuca, who described the heists as the "worst" he had ever seen, with methods increasingly coordinated and sophisticated.

In one instance, a truck escort was rear-ended in a hit-and-run, rendering it inoperable. In another case, the escort vehicle was intentionally pulled off the road via a PIT maneuver and then fled the scene. Once the escorts were immobilized, the delivery trucks proceeded without stopping, never to be seen again, leaving millions of dollars worth of AI hardware unaccounted for.

Pachuca, along with J.J. Coughlin and Danny Ramon, have all corroborated these accounts. Coughlin, chairman of the Southwest Transportation Security Council, reported that one escort company alerted him when their vehicle was attacked. Ramon, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul, a freight-monitoring software developer, described the incident as a "coordinated assault" targeting "AI hardware."

These attacks have become so concerning that escort companies are now facing a rise in demand, with Michael Duffy, CEO of Solutions Group International, stating that his business has seen a surge in clients moving liquid cooling parts, servers, and computer chips. He estimates that his company has protected 13,000 shipments without any losses over the past four years.

The surge in cargo theft has been attributed to the rise of the AI data center industry, which has seen total spending on construction in the first half of the year surpass all of 2025. While overall thefts have fallen 26% year-over-year, the value of stolen goods has more than doubled, as thieves target expensive cargo with financial value outpacing their transportation and security profile.

In response to these incidents, escort operators are seeking ways to enhance security, with some encouraging personnel to call 911 at the first sign of suspicious activity. Law enforcement agencies have also made recoveries, such as the seizure of $4 million worth of allegedly stolen cargo in Southern California and the recovery of over $2.2 million in merchandise in the Chicago area.