From drones and tunnels to hackers and superhero disguises, these truck heists are so outrageous they seem pulled straight from the big screen. But they really happened.
When we think of cargo theft, we often picture masked criminals, weapons, and violence. But in some cases, reality goes far beyond fiction. In the U.S. and across the globe, law enforcement agencies have documented truck robberies so unusual, clever, and downright absurd they could easily be turned into action movies.
Here are some of the most cinematic truck heists ever reported — in America and around the world.
🛻 Drone-Orchestrated Theft – Texas, 2024
Outside Houston, a criminal ring used drones to track and monitor trucks hauling electronics. Once the vehicles stopped in remote areas, backup vans arrived to intercept them. The use of drones for cargo theft raised alarms throughout the freight industry.

🦸♂️ The Spider-Man Robber – Colorado, 2019
In Colorado, a man dressed as Spider-Man jumped onto a moving semi-truck to steal a load of gaming consoles. He was arrested a few hours later, but not before footage of the “superhero thief” went viral on social media.
🧯 Fireworks Heist Before July 4th – Florida, 2022
Just days before Independence Day, thieves stole an entire truck filled with fireworks in Tampa. The driver had stepped away briefly to grab coffee. The suspects escaped with what was essentially a mobile celebration — and were never caught.
🎯 Gun Cargo Robbery on the Road – Georgia, 2023
At a rest stop near Atlanta, a group of thieves broke the locks on a truck carrying firearms and ammunition. They made off with at least 60 rifles, pistols, and boxes of ammo. The FBI and ATF treated the case as a serious threat to national security.
🌍 A Wild World of Heists: International Cases That Sound Like Movie Scripts
🎭 ‘Money Heist’-Style Robbery – Chile, 2023
In Santiago, criminals dressed in red jumpsuits and Salvador Dalí masks (just like in the series Money Heist) stopped an armored truck using a fake police blockade and spike strips. In under 10 minutes, they made off with over $2 million and vanished in cloned SUVs.

🧨 Fast & Furious Assault – Brazil, 2021
In São Paulo, a gang attacked a moving armored truck using motorcycles and sports cars. They jumped from hoods onto the trailer, used explosives, and looted the cargo of high-end smartphones — all while recording the stunt on a GoPro.
🕳️ Tunnel to Gold – Canada, 2023
In Toronto, thieves dug a 30-meter tunnel under an airport cargo terminal to intercept a truck hauling gold from Switzerland. They stole more than $20 million in bullion. The case remains unsolved.
🎮 GPS Hack and Route Hijack – Germany, 2022
Cybercriminals hacked into a truck’s GPS and camera systems to reroute the vehicle carrying microchips. The driver, unaware of the change, stopped at a rest area — only to find the truck had been emptied.
📦 Fake Amazon Truck Trick – France, 2020
A French gang created a nearly perfect replica of an Amazon truck, complete with uniforms and paperwork. They drove into a warehouse, loaded hundreds of luxury perfume boxes, and drove away. The real Amazon truck arrived two hours later.
🧠 BONUS: The Psychic Heist – Argentina, 2017
In Mendoza, a trucker claimed his vehicle vanished “as if by magic.” He told police he blacked out after seeing a “blue light” and woke up to find the cargo missing. Authorities suspected foul play, but the goods were never found.
Criminals or Frustrated Screenwriters?
These cases reveal not only the creativity and boldness of modern cargo thieves but also the increasing complexity of protecting freight in the age of advanced tech. With over 1,500 cargo thefts reported annually in the U.S., many involving digital intrusion or coordinated assaults, trucking companies and insurers are under growing pressure to stay ahead.
In this industry, truth is often stranger — and more thrilling — than fiction.

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