Police in China have arrested two men who turned esports hotels into the center of a profitable theft operation. Instead of stealing entire gaming PCs, they repeatedly checked into hotels and removed RAM modules from high-end computers. Within just two weeks, the pair stole 16 memory sticks and sold them through second-hand marketplaces.
Criminal scheme targeted esports hotels
According to Chinese authorities, the crimes took place in Shihezi, Xinjiang. Suspect Li started the operation alone. He rented rooms at esports hotels with powerful gaming PCs, opened the computer cases, removed the RAM modules, and quietly checked out.
Li later recruited an accomplice surnamed Cheng to expand the scheme. Between May 15 and May 31, the pair checked into several hotels, opened gaming PCs inside their rooms, and stole 16 RAM sticks in total. The thefts took only a few minutes. Armed with nothing more than a screwdriver, the suspects removed the memory modules and left before hotel staff noticed anything suspicious.
Stolen hardware sold online and offline
Investigators say Li listed the stolen RAM on Chinese second-hand marketplaces at attractive prices to secure quick sales. The pair also sold some of the hardware through local electronics stores. Together, the suspects earned more than 13,200 yuan (around $1,850) before police uncovered the operation. The thefts quickly affected hotel guests. Many visitors found only a black screen when they tried to turn on the gaming PCs because the computers no longer contained any RAM.
Police tracked down the suspects
Hotel operators contacted police after technicians discovered repeated hardware failures. Investigators reviewed guest records, spotted a clear pattern, and identified the same visitors across multiple incidents. Officers soon located and arrested both suspects. Police have placed Li and Cheng under criminal detention, and investigators continue working on the case.
Rising RAM prices create new risks
The case highlights how rising hardware prices continue to create new opportunities for criminals. RAM has become significantly more expensive because of supply shortages and strong demand. As a result, memory modules have become an attractive target. They are compact, valuable, and easy to remove in just a few minutes.
The incident also exposes a growing security challenge for esports hotels. These venues rely on expensive gaming hardware, yet many systems remain easy to access. Hotel operators may now need additional security measures to protect individual PC components from similar thefts in the future.
