Thieves steal more than 7,000 Wii consoles

[Rob2600]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/12/thieves-steal-2m-worth-of-wii-consoles/

Police in SeaTac, Wash., are asking for help in tracking down thieves who they said stole $2 million worth of Nintendo Wii gaming consoles.

The thieves managed to get away with 7,000 portable Wii gaming consoles after raiding a warehouse at SeaTac's Seattle Air Cargo.

"I've been a cop for 28 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this," said Sgt. Cindy West. "This has come straight out of the movies."

West explains the thieves drove two large diesel trucks into a Nintendo distribution site inside Seattle Air Cargo on Saturday evening around 9:00. The thieves worked together to snatch up thousands of consoles by operating forklifts within the warehouse. Afterward, they loaded the Wiis into two 53-foot semi-truck trailers waiting outside the center along with another large box-truck van.

By noon on Sunday, employees inside the business noticed empty Nintendo pallets on the warehouse floor and missing trucks.

Police have no information on the thieves and say it's unclear just how many were inside the warehouse during the time of the heist.

"If we don't get any tips ahead of time, it will be the selling of these consoles that will lead to their capture," said West. "It's gonna be pretty hard to hide 7,000 Wii game consoles."

[buzz_n64]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/12/thieves-steal-2m-worth-of-wii-consoles/
"7,000 portable Wii gaming consoles"

Portable? 3DS systems perhaps? Or just plain Wii game systems?

[kupomogli]

They're Wii Us, it's just poor journalism. From reading the article, it seems that there is little to no security at that place. I'd assume there's no security guard as in a time frame of two hours and 30 minutes, there was no one to check and see why these people were at this location? Also assuming none or few cameras were inside and possibly on the outside of the warehouse, as they state they have no idea how many thieves there were.

I'd think a shipping facility would have a lot more security, considering how much money everything is in these warehouses.

[IHatedSega]

Itd suck to be the master mind behind the theft, and your henchmen brin gyou Wii's instead of Wii U's. @_@

[Rob2600]

Portable? 3DS systems perhaps? Or just plain Wii game systems?

That article and accompanying video are confusing. The article states "Wii", but as you pointed out, it also states "portable". And the police officer claims each "Wii" costs around $300. And then the video shows the Wii U being played.

So was it 7,000+ Wii, Wii U, or 3DS consoles that were stolen?

[Aussie2B]

Huh, that's surprising. I've been through a lot of US airports, SeaTac more than most, and SeaTac has always seemed like one of the better ones, very organized and under control. I'm surprised something like this could be pulled off there.

[Collector_Gaming]

"Its not about the video games..... Its about sending a message"
http://www.empireonline.com/images/uploaded/heath-ledger-the-joker.jpg

Actually who wants to bet this has something to do with china or another asian country? Because they are willing to do anything it takes to get hot items like this for nothing and some of them are crafty enough to pull off a heist like this. (remember the buy outs they do every major apple release where they send a 100 into a store and buy the max five units of apple products and then ship em out to be resold mark up price in asia?). and once they enter those countries (specially china or north korea) they are virtually unrecoverable.

[Gamevet]

Unless they track every ebay, Craig's list and Amazon sale out of Seattle, there is no way they can hunt down these thieves. I'm pretty sure they could sell them out of state if they wanted to.


It sounds like an inside job as well, or a disgruntled employee that still had a means of access to the site.

[Gameguy]

It's Ocean's Eleven but instead of happening at a casino it was at a crappy warehouse.

[kedawa]

It doesn't matter who they are. What matters is their plan.

[Greg2600]

Actually the heist from the airport was most notable in this film. And it really happened.

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2012/06/goodfellas-retro.jpg

[Deadman]

Sadly, these aren't the smartest thieves anyway, as the Wii U is just kinda sitting on the shelves at most every store I visit. Plus Craigslist is still full of all the loser-scalpers that pre-ordered from 5 different stores so that they could resell them when they sold out. So, not sure if maybe these criminal masterminds shouldn't have just changed their minds and gotten a starbucks instead.

[Greg2600]

If they don't get caught, they could sell each for $200, and make $140,000 in cash. They aren't worthless.

[Rob2600]

If they don't get caught, they could sell each for $200, and make $140,000 in cash. They aren't worthless.

I think you mean $1.4 million in cash :)

[Collector_Gaming]

Sadly, these aren't the smartest thieves anyway, as the Wii U is just kinda sitting on the shelves at most every store I visit. Plus Craigslist is still full of all the loser-scalpers that pre-ordered from 5 different stores so that they could resell them when they sold out. So, not sure if maybe these criminal masterminds shouldn't have just changed their minds and gotten a starbucks instead.

Doesn't mean they need to sell in north america. Like i said they could be sending out to Asia to be resold at crazy prices.

[The 1 2 P]

They stole something thats completely no longer in demand in the US. They will still have 6,992 of these by this time next year.

[Rickstilwell1]

That would be funny if Nintendo employees were sent in by NOA to rob themselves so it would look like there would be a shortage this year again due to theft. Then they just ship them all back to the warehouse as another shipment.

[Collector_Gaming]

That would be funny if Nintendo employees were sent in by NOA to rob themselves so it would look like there would be a shortage this year again due to theft. Then they just ship them all back to the warehouse as another shipment.

That would one hell of a elaborate scheme to try to increase sales and give self promotion.

And as stated before they may not be selling well here but whos to say else where? Where as NOA could have sold the product themselves to said countries to get their money back at least these guys (and or gals you never know) decided to rip them off and do the leg work them selves.

I mean it would be pretty stupid to think they are gonna distribute these on the american black market. I just don't see it personally

Another scheme they could do to america is to sell them to second hand stores (i think it would be suicidal to give em to gamestop for trade in) which I think would be retarded because i would think even if you some how found 700 pawn shops/second hand stores near by they would get suspicious of someone dragging in 10 new or like new Wiiu's when they could have gotten a full return at a store.

[The 1 2 P]

I'm still wondering why a warehouse like that had no security. I mean, no security guard? No survelliance camera? No sign saying "Beware of Dog" ?

[kedawa]

I'm still wondering why a warehouse like that had no security. I mean, no security guard? No survelliance camera? No sign saying "Beware of Dog" ?

12/15 was an inside job!

[LaughingMAN.S9]

how hard is it to drive a stolen truck into canada? that'd be my play

[Collector_Gaming]

how hard is it to drive a stolen truck into canada? that'd be my play

If i was doing that i would go 1 at a time in smaller vehicles with duration between each car.
Because large trucks shipping trucks i think they have to look every single one over and might as well come out and say that you stole em at that point. Canadian border patrol can be pretty relax at times i've gone with a huge group of cars where the lead guy goes "oh yea we are going to this drag track you guys have to go racing" and then he goes through and they let all of us go through with out stopping us. I mean sure some days you'll get that hard ass that will stop each car and look it over and such but not every time.

[Buyatari]

I think you mean $1.4 million in cash :)

Either that or he meant $20 each.

I'm sure they would go quick at that price !

[Lady Jaye]

According to this article, it's actually Wii Us (half basic units, half deluxe units).

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-19-bandits-loot-7-000-wii-us-in-airport-heist

[Rob2600]

According to this article, it's actually Wii Us (half basic units, half deluxe units).

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-19-bandits-loot-7-000-wii-us-in-airport-heist

If that's the case, then that's $2.28 million in stolen product.

[Gameguy]

They managed to get a shot of one of the thieves.


http://i48.tinypic.com/hug56q.jpg

[Zama]

They managed to get a shot of one of the thieves.


http://i48.tinypic.com/hug56q.jpg

I lol'd ROFL