Camera Gear Heist: Thieves Target Tech Warehouse

In the early hours of a Monday morning, a trio of thieves set their sights on a tech warehouse in Youngsville, North Carolina. The warehouse, belonging to custom PC and hardware seller PowerGPU, was infiltrated through multiple entry points. The thieves cleverly disabled the internet and security systems before making off with over $30, 000 worth of camera equipment. The warehouse, one of several owned by PowerGPU, was targeted around 1 AM. The thieves didn't just break in—they cut a hole in the side, breached an HVAC vent, and even smashed an office window. They spent over two hours inside, carefully avoiding security sensors and using flashlights to navigate.Jese Martinez, the founder of PowerGPU, noted the significance of the stolen gear. "Anyone who works with cameras knows how expensive they can be, " he told CBS17. The thieves' actions were captured on surveillance footage, showing one of them sliding across the floor with Martinez's Sony FX3 camera. After triggering an alarm, the thieves fled. Martinez received a call from his security company at 3 AM, but the robbers were already gone. Police later found a stolen car left running at the back of the building, suggesting a planned operation. Martinez believes the heist was well-coordinated and targeted. "It definitely looks that way, " he speculated to WRAL. In response, he plans to enhance security measures at his business. Similar incidents have been reported, including a videographer who was robbed of $5, 700 worth of camera equipment at knifepoint after being lured to a fake music video shoot.