Massive Nintendo Heist: Nearly 3,000 Switch 2 Consoles Stolen from Semi in Colorado
A high-stakes heist in Colorado has law enforcement scrambling after nearly 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen from a semi-truck earlier this month—an estimated loss of over $1 million in gaming gear.
The theft was discovered the morning of June 8 at the Love’s Truck Stop in Bennett, east of Denver. According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the semi-truck driver found that the trailer had been broken into during a routine pre-trip inspection. Inside were multiple pallets of the newly released Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, each retailing for $499.
The driver, who was hauling the shipment from Nintendo of America’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington to a GameStop in Grapevine, Texas, told deputies he had no idea what he was transporting—just that it involved games or toys.
“This wasn’t a few boxes—this was a major theft,” said Anders Nelson, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. “A total of 2,810 consoles were taken.”
Experts believe the stolen goods won’t be turning up in pawn shops or on local classifieds anytime soon. Steve Beaty, a computer science professor at MSU Denver, said the stolen units are likely being sold on the dark web or trafficked out of the country. In fact, he found listings for Switch 2 consoles online in minutes—going for half price.
But don’t think you can score a bargain without risk. Each Switch console has a unique serial number that must be registered online to access games and updates. That means Nintendo can track and remotely disable stolen devices, rendering them useless—a process known as “bricking.”
Investigators are still unsure if the theft occurred in Bennett or at another stop along the truck’s route. The suspects could face felony theft charges, criminal mischief, and more if caught.
Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to contact the Arapahoe County tipline at 720-874-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.
