Tesla battling wave of battery thefts from Giga Nevada

Tesla is dealing with an unusual challenge out of Giga Nevada after multiple trailers loaded with batteries were allegedly stolen before they ever reached their destinations.

According to a report from WIRED, thieves targeted shipments leaving the factory, making off with trailers carrying millions of dollars worth of energy storage products and vehicle batteries over a span of just a few weeks.

Investigators say at least 11 major thefts involving Tesla cargo occurred between December and January, with nine incidents taking place in January alone.

Unlike traditional cargo thefts where criminals target unattended trailers at truck stops or rest areas, investigators believe many of the Tesla thefts involved sophisticated schemes designed to exploit weaknesses in shipping verification systems.

Authorities say some suspects used forged identification and posed as legitimate transport companies to collect trailers directly from Tesla facilities.

One of the first incidents reportedly involved two trailers carrying more than US$475,000 worth of Powerwall 3 units each. The trailers were later recovered empty in Southern California.

Tesla’s security team was eventually able to locate some of the missing units after they appeared for sale online. Investigators noted that batteries flagged as stolen cannot be activated, significantly reducing their resale value to legitimate buyers.

Additional incidents followed throughout January. One shipment containing 123 Powerwalls destined for California reportedly disappeared after a freight broker assigned the delivery to an illegitimate carrier that lacked the required operating credentials.

Several stolen trailers were eventually recovered thanks to GPS tracking systems. In some cases, authorities discovered trailers abandoned nearby with their cargo still intact. Others were found empty after thieves had removed the batteries and disabled tracking equipment.

The investigation led to the arrest of three suspects in late January after law enforcement monitored a trailer equipped with a tracking device and allegedly caught the individuals attempting to move it. Court proceedings are expected later this year.

Investigators say Tesla has already responded by tightening security procedures at Giga Nevada, including introducing additional driver identity verification measures at facility entrances.

According to investigators, those changes are already making a difference. “It’s definitely helping,” Storey County Sheriff’s Detective Sam Hatleysaid. “Thefts are happening, but not as prolifically.”