Authorities recover stolen materials critical for AI infrastructure as theft shifts from retail goods to high-value data center supply chains.
Authorities in Illinois recovered $1.3 million worth of stolen copper wire and data center equipment, highlighting a shift in organized crime targets. The theft involved trailers carrying $300,000 in copper spools, essential for AI data center construction, intercepted outside Chicago.
Cargo theft has traditionally focused on consumer goods like electronics, but criminals are now exploiting the lucrative AI infrastructure boom. The recovered materials were traced back to a stolen trailer reported in Alabama, with license plates linked to another theft in Wisconsin.
The incident underscores rising risks in supply chains supporting AI and data center expansion, as demand for critical materials surges.