In a bold act of theft that has left authorities scratching their heads, an estimated 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen from a stationary semi-truck at a truck stop in Bennett. The theft occurred under the cover of darkness and involved the removal of several pallets loaded with the sought-after gaming devices.
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Anders Nelson, reported that the truck driver discovered the break-in at the Love’s truck stop. The driver, unaware of the valuable cargo he was transporting, was taken aback to find the locks broken and the merchandise missing. The stolen consoles, retailing at $499 each, represent a loss of over $1 million for Nintendo.
Steve Beaty, a computer science professor at MSU Denver, speculated that the stolen goods are unlikely to appear in conventional marketplaces. Beaty suggested that the stolen consoles could end up on the dark web or even be transported overseas, given the ease of anonymous online trading of such items.
Despite the allure of lower prices, Beaty warned potential buyers against purchasing these stolen goods. Each console has a unique serial number that must be registered to access games and updates. This feature enables Nintendo to track and potentially disable, or “brick,” the device remotely.
For those interested in purchasing the new console, Beaty advised sticking to reputable retailers. He cautioned, “If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is,” emphasizing the risk of ending up with a non-functional device.
Investigators are still working to determine whether the theft occurred at the Bennett location or during another stop along the truck’s route. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information to come forward.