On Thursday morning, a PlusAI executive received an unexpected text message congratulating him on recovering two of his company's self-driving truck trailers. The twist? The trailers, emblazoned with PlusAI and Nvidia logos, were filled with 20,000 pounds of sand each. The trailers were found abandoned, their locks broken, in Newark, California. According to PlusAI, the trailers were full of sand to assist with research and development testing.

The incident highlights a broader trend of theft targeting high-value computer equipment, including data center chips, Tesla batteries, and bitcoin mining machines. In August, two incidents in California saw thieves deliberately targeting vehicles escorting high-value tech loads, driving the trucks to another destination. As of August, millions of dollars worth of equipment had not been recovered.

The case is under investigation, but no arrests have been made. Amy Gee, a Fremont Police Department spokesperson, stated that the trailers were recovered with 40,000 pounds of sand intact. Lauren Kwan, a PlusAI spokesperson, confirmed that the tech-enabled truck cabs, where the driver typically sits and controls the vehicle, were not taken. The hand locks securing the trailers were broken.

This story has a happy ending, as the sand-filled trailers were back with PlusAI by Thursday afternoon. The incident raises questions about the future of cargo theft, with sand potentially becoming a thief's best friend, or at least a clever way to avoid detection.