BENNETT, CO – In a brazen heist that has left authorities scrambling for answers, nearly 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen from a parked semi-truck at a truck stop in Bennett. The theft, which occurred under the cover of darkness, involved the removal of several pallets of the highly 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 in his trailer, was stunned to find the locks had been tampered with and the goods missing. The stolen consoles, retailing at $499 each, add up to a loss exceeding $1 million for Nintendo.
Steve Beaty, a computer science professor at MSU Denver, explained that these stolen items are unlikely to appear in conventional marketplaces. “They’re probably heading to the dark web or even being shipped overseas,” Beaty said, emphasizing the ease with which such items can be traded anonymously online.
Despite the allure of discounted prices, Beaty warned potential buyers against purchasing these stolen goods. Each console is equipped with a serial number that must be registered to access games and updates, allowing Nintendo to track and potentially disable, or “brick,” the device remotely.
For those eager to get their hands on the new console, Beaty advised sticking to reputable retailers. “If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is,” he cautioned, noting the risk of ending up with a non-functional device.
Investigators are still determining 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.