Tesla is facing a rare safety issue in the US, and it’s happening before most of its batteries hit the road. According to a WIRED investigation, several truckloads of Tesla batteries are suspected to have been stolen directly from the company’s Nevada Gigafactory, highlighting a growing wave of organized cargo theft targeting high-value technology shipments.
Theft has become a major problem for Tesla
The report says at least nine major incidents of alleged theft occurred at Tesla’s Nevada battery factory in January alone. Investigators say the issue is much bigger than those incidents, as authorities are tracking at least 17 theft cases involving Tesla and other businesses in Nevada’s Storey County this year.
Storey County Sheriff’s Investigator Sam Hatley described the situation as an “epidemic,” suggesting that recorded cases may represent a small fraction of the total number of thefts. Industry researchers estimate property theft losses in the US will nearly double between 2022 and 2024, costing businesses nearly $18 million every day. Electronic components and batteries have become very attractive targets due to their high resale value.
The investigation also revealed that some of the early thefts took advantage of weaknesses in transport verification procedures. Authorities believe organized gangs used fake IDs, illegal carriers, and loopholes in transportation security to collect the goods before legitimate shipping companies arrived.
Tesla has reportedly responded by beefing up security at the Nevada Gigafactory, including verifying driver identity at the facility’s gates. Investigators say the changes have reduced the frequency of successful theft attempts.
Powerwall batteries, GPS trackers and more arrests
One of the biggest incidents reportedly involved two trailers carrying Tesla Powerwall battery systems worth more than $475,000 each. The trailers were allegedly collected by an illegal company before being recovered several kilometers away, although the cargo had already disappeared.
Investigators also discovered several additional cases involving trailers carrying Powerwall batteries worth nearly half a million dollars. In some cases, GPS trackers help authorities locate stolen trailers, while detectives even deploy their own tracking devices in an effort to catch suspects returning with abandoned goods.
The investigation eventually led to the arrest of three suspects following another attempted theft incident in late January. Prosecutors say the group left California using fake driver’s licenses to collect Tesla assets.
The report also notes that law enforcement has begun to respond to the widespread increase in property theft. A bipartisan bill recently passed the US House of Representatives aims to strengthen enforcement against organized crime and improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
For Tesla, the incidents underscore that protecting electric vehicle batteries no longer ends at the factory. Increasingly, securing the supply chain has become as important as building the batteries themselves.
