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Rising memory shortages lead to targeted theft of individual RAM modules
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 01:20 PM
Reports indicate individuals are targeting specific RAM components inside office PCs due to rising supply constraints and value of memory modules. One incident involved the theft of four 32 GB Micron memory sticks from a secured office.
Context
Theft patterns are shifting from entire PCs to individual components, highlighted by a recent break-in where four 32 GB Micron memory sticks were stolen from a smashed computer case. This trend reflects the skyrocketing value and high portability of RAM as the global semiconductor supply chain enters a severe structural deficit expected to persist through 2026.
The crunch is driven by a massive reallocation of manufacturing capacity at firms like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix toward high-margin High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for artificial intelligence. Micron has effectively exited the consumer retail market, pausing new quotations and moving to discontinue its Crucial brand to prioritize insatiable data center demand.
Market data shows standard 32 GB DDR5 kits have spiked from roughly $100 to over $300 in one year. With general DRAM demand fulfillment currently at just 60%, analysts project prices will surge another 50% in early 2026, with no significant supply relief expected until 2028.
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