GPU thieves replaced RTX 5080 cards with RTX 3060s in Chinese esports hotels until a blackout gave them away

Thieves in China managed to steal and replace high-end graphics cards in esports hotels, only to be caught by a power outage. These incidents highlight the growing attractiveness of GPUs as a target for theft due to the increasing prices of computer components.

Esports hotels in China serve as a blend of a regular hotel and a high-end gaming café. They are designed for ordinary gamers seeking a private LAN-party experience with accommodations like beds and hotel facilities. The criminals targeted rooms equipped with powerful gaming PCs, often boasting cards such as the RTX 5070 and RTX 5080. Their strategy involved swapping the expensive cards for much cheaper models, specifically the RTX 3060, before reinstalling the drivers.

Despite the similar appearance of the cards from the outside, hotel staff did not notice any discrepancies as customers did not complain about the performance. However, the scheme was disrupted on July 18 when one of the thieves requested a room change due to a power cut. An electrician found signs of forced removal and replacement of the GPU. Upon checking another room, hotel staff discovered two RTX 5080 cards had been swapped out for RTX 3060 models.

The stolen GPUs were subsequently sold for approximately half of their market value. Police identified the suspects as part of a larger network involved in similar crimes across Wuhan, resulting in the theft of nearly 80,000 yuan (around $12,000) worth of high-end hardware. Two of the stolen GPUs were recovered when the criminals were apprehended.