A user shopping sees a gaming PC that is on display and freely accessible. He notices that the graphics card worth over 400 euros is missing.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to buy electronic devices next to regular groceries in supermarkets. This way, whole gaming PCs often end up in the shopping cart alongside bread and milk.
In the case of a post on Reddit, someone took the concept of self-service during shopping a bit too literally. A user from the community found that a displayed gaming PC was missing its graphics card. But even with a graphics card present, gamers can encounter problems.
Gaming PC in supermarket missing the 400 euro graphics card
What discovery did the PC enthusiast make? During his walk through a supermarket, the Reddit user greatthebob38 passed by the electronics section. His attention was drawn to a gaming PC. It was displayed unpackaged next to unopened boxes containing identical computers. There are also cases where the packaging of hardware is misused.
This computer was obviously missing one of its side panels. Upon closer inspection, greatthebob38 also noticed that no graphics card was installed. According to the specifications on the boxes next to it, there should actually be an Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti graphics card in the system.
Was the graphics card stolen? The PC enthusiast is convinced that someone seized the unique opportunity to discreetly remove the graphics card worth over 400 euros. He does not believe that the supermarket proactively removed the hardware themselves.
Supporting his statement is the missing side panel. For safety reasons, the Reddit user would have expected that the glass side panel would have been securely screwed on. Interested buyers could still look into the interior of the gaming PC. At the same time, the installed hardware would be better secured against a quick theft.
On another visit to the supermarket, the PC enthusiast also wanted to point out that someone had been tampering with the RAM and the CPU cooler. He believes there was an attempt to loosen the mounts of the RAM and the fan on the CPU cooler.
This way, the memory modules and, after removing the fan along with the cooler, even the processor could be taken out. Sometimes hardware sabotages itself and leaves the user bewildered.
What does the community say about the case? Opinions vary. Some believe this is indeed a bold theft and mock the inadequate security against theft.
- “Now I’m just waiting for the Reddit post: Hey guys! Look, I got a new 4060 Ti for my gaming PC!” (indkyjtsxucivoxuggg via Reddit)
- “Interestingly, I received the 4060 Ti for Christmas, kind of funny.” (vaungar3 via Reddit)
However, there are also Reddit users who claim to be supermarket employees or at least have worked for such a business. They are convinced that the affected supermarket proactively removed the graphics card, as they have done it the same way.
- I can vouch for that, I worked in the main department (TV/Electronics). We are supposed to remove the GPU and put it in the safe until the display model is sold. Don’t get me wrong, people still try to mess with the RAM and even the CPU and cooler, but if they had done their job right, they should have removed the GPU. (Cms2k1 via Reddit)
A game console worth 274,000 euros would certainly be a sought-after target for thieves. Since there is only one known specimen of the joint game console from Nintendo and Sony, a YouTuber took the last known prototype as a model to build his own Nintendo PlayStation: Sony and Nintendo buried their joint game console 33 years ago – A YouTuber simply builds his own version
