A wave of large-scale thefts has hit Tesla's Nevada gigafactory, where dozens of trucks loaded with Powerwall batteries have been stolen before even leaving the facility. According to Storey County Sheriff's records obtained by WIRED, nine suspected cargo thefts occurred in January alone, with a combined value in the millions of dollars. Detective Sam Hatley, who is investigating the cases, described the situation as an epidemic.
The organized thieves' modus operandi
Investigations revealed that criminal gangs exploited vulnerabilities in Tesla's security protocols, using fake IDs and unauthorized carriers. In one incident, two trailers filled with Powerwall 3 units were taken by a fraudulent logistics carrier and found empty about 500 miles away in Southern California. The products, each worth over $475,000, later appeared for sale online, but Tesla deactivated them, rendering them unusable.
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An escalating wave of thefts
Beyond December and January, investigators are tracking a total of 17 alleged cargo thefts in Storey County this year, also involving other companies such as battery recycler Redwood Materials. Hatley noted that the figures may be an undercount, as companies are often reluctant to disclose thefts. According to transportation industry researchers, cargo thefts in the US nearly doubled from 2022 to 2024, costing companies about $18 million a day, with knock-on effects on consumer prices.
Arrest of suspects and new security measures
On January 30, police arrested three men suspected of stealing a trailer with an active GPS tracker. Arashdeep Singh, Deepindeer Singh, and Harman Pal Singh, from California, are charged with felony possession of stolen property using a fake commercial driver's license. The trial is scheduled for October. Meanwhile, Tesla has tightened controls, verifying driver identities at the factory gate. Hatley confirmed the measures are helping reduce thefts, though not eliminating them entirely.
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Legislative context and response
Concerns over cargo theft have reached the US Congress. The House passed a bipartisan bill to facilitate prosecutions and improve coordination among law enforcement agencies. Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto stated that these crimes create chaos for businesses and raise prices for families. Detective Hatley emphasized that a concerted effort among carriers, brokers, victims, and police is needed to curb the theft epidemic. Tesla's cooperation marks a significant improvement over 2018, when the company refused to assist investigations into copper wire theft. For more on supply chain issues, read the article on South Korea invests $518 billion in new chip fabs.
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To learn more about cargo theft, visit the Wikipedia page: Cargo theft.
