UPS rebel employees steal $19,000 in PS3s

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 21st 2006 at 4:55PM }

Three UPS employees have been charged with stealing $19,000 worth of PS3s from the Elmwood distribution center in Louisiana. The men, who worked at the UPS plant in the evening, sent 20 PS3s and 24 SIXAXIS controllers to their day jobs at Andrews Sport Company Inc. by switching the stickers on the boxes.

Although the story broke today, the crime was originally filed on Dec. 11 and the thefts were finished by Dec. 5. So, if you were expecting a PS3 shipment by UPS between launch and Dec. 5 around New Orleans without it ever arriving, then we've got a pretty good idea who's got it. No word yet what the thieves did with the stolen systems.

[Via GayGamer]

Tags: new orleans, ps3, stolen, UPS

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

devcap @ Dec 21st 2006 4:59PM

Well that seems a mature thing to do.

Norm @ Dec 21st 2006 5:14PM

Yeah, good idea, with the TRACKING NUMBERS and all.

AsSeenOntV @ Dec 21st 2006 5:15PM

Any way to make a buck... That's what it looks like.

AsSeenOntV @ Dec 21st 2006 5:18PM

In responce to:

Yeah, good idea, with the TRACKING NUMBERS and all.

Posted at 5:09PM on Dec 21st 2006 by Norm

They SWITCHED the numbers/labels (IE: Tracking Numbers... Read the story a little bit more carefully before you post please.

jmh @ Dec 21st 2006 5:18PM

well I can't say that I shocked, with all the shipping problems I've been having with them this holiday, I knew they had to be doing something other than working. As it stands a company of this size that remains as poorly managed is bound to hire and enable criminal and their behavior.

otakucode @ Dec 21st 2006 5:20PM

Note that this happened with UPS. This wouldn't happen with FedEx. Not because I have all kinds of love for FedEx particularly, its just how the companies are structured. FedEx drivers are independent contractors and are not employed by FedEx. They own their trucks, and they own their route. If packages start coming up missing, it hurts them personally and they can have their contract with FedEx cancelled easily. UPS drivers, on the other hand, are union members and effectively can't be fired. I'd be surprised if the union let these guys go even if they were convincted.

Radon @ Dec 21st 2006 5:22PM

They should have swapped the boxes with live bees, then this would have been interesting at least...

Snake @ Dec 21st 2006 5:30PM

PS3 and Wii are complete opposites:

-ps3 is Black
wii is white

-ps3' launch was one of the worst ever....
Wii' was one of the best ever

-Ps3's hardware is the most powerful "next gen"
Wii's is the crapiest "next gen"

-Ps3's lineup sucks except for one title "resistance"
-Wii's lineup is pretty decent

-PS3's are stolen
-Wii's are given as Christmas gift.

But most importantly

-Ps3's future lineup and overall potential kicks ass
-Wii's lick ass

P.S. Where is the 360?????

Well.....

-the ps3 breaks people's hearts "and wallet"
-the wii breaks TVs
-and the 360 just breaks down… a lot.

C. T. @ Dec 21st 2006 5:30PM

I don't know about "this wouldn't happen with FedEx." I shipped a $1,000 road bike FedEx Ground and one of the handlers pulled the same sticker-switch scheme. But they did manage to sort out the mess and get it to me.

Norm @ Dec 21st 2006 5:32PM

about trackers,

Well wouldn't you still need tracking numbers to ship them to your workplace? so I mean, you have these items shipped to yourself, even though you switched the numbers, you still have shipments going from the hub to your day job. From what I remember, UPS keeps a close eye on things employees send, especially to themselves.

Shagi @ Dec 21st 2006 5:46PM

Snake you're wrong

the wii always sucks

the ps3 always rule

i mean titles like Galaxy, Corruption, and MP3 and Brawl LICKS TOTAL ASS!

Snake @ Dec 21st 2006 6:01PM

I agree shagi... I am just trying not to make it look so bad.

got to give Nintendo some credit for being so popular for so long with such retarded first party game. People complain about final fantasy, but god demit how many more Marios can they pump out. Stupid fat plumber.

Zelda will probably be the best game for the wii period. And that is sad being that it is just a launch title.

Charlie @ Dec 21st 2006 6:01PM

Snake, I didn't find your comment slightly amusing until I got to the very last comparison. Hilarious.

snarfoogle @ Dec 21st 2006 6:03PM

$19,000 of PS3s? That's petty theft!

*laugh track ensues*

just_somebody @ Dec 21st 2006 6:04PM

^otakucode

props to turning a post into a union bash!

Free Market & right-to-work FTW

jabbertrack @ Dec 21st 2006 6:10PM

LOL morons!

UPS I'm sure has some sort of software or reporting in place to catch things like this. Why do people think they can get away with this stuff?

Retrojunkie @ Dec 21st 2006 6:20PM

Snake you're a moron for 2 reasons

1.You're actually being serious
2.i am pretty sure Shagi was being sarcastic

unless you're being sarcastic as well

but if you're not, please take a .357 calibur sleeping pill

Mr. Khan @ Dec 21st 2006 6:49PM

There is a new level of hate loose on Joystiq today
Either someone is extremely mad that the Wii is getting accepted, or somebody has some extreme personal issues

And yes, you should support UPS because of their union policies, and if this story had appeared anywhere else, i would flame it for an anti-union undertone

However, i know better, joystiq's business is not to meddle in the affairs of labor relations, but to report on the item stolen (PS3)

If they had done this a week ago, they may have gotten a good profit on it, but now, i dunno...

Bob @ Dec 21st 2006 6:50PM

So $19,000 in PS3s is about 2-3 consoles? :)

LordMinogue @ Dec 21st 2006 7:45PM

@just_somebody

I hope you don't take your comment about having a "right to a job" seriously. That communist idea ultimatly ruins economies.

Look at France: The 'right to a job' movement has reduced openings in the job market to mere crumbs. A worker, once hired, cannot be fired due to their right to the job. Thus, few companies are hiring anyone. Unemployment there is about %20 for anyone under 30 (correct me if I'm wrong, cite your source). To reduce unemployment, the French government tried to remove this right. No Dice.

I'm not saying Unions are bad, but powerful Unions prevent their firms from being competitive. The job market it ultimatly reduced as firms shut down, and markets move over seas.

DeejayKnight @ Dec 21st 2006 10:00PM

This isn't a bit surprising to me, although my impressions of UPS have fallen off as of recently.

Hopefully they get fired, because that's simply unforgivable.

Ben @ Dec 21st 2006 10:15PM

That doesn't surprise me one bit. I work at Best Buy, and both stores in my town have been plagued, this year with the PS3 and last year with the 360, by UPS employees who get calls from the guy driving the truck, telling them when the systems are going to be in. Then they just all hang out nonchalantly waiting for the systems to be received, too stupid to realize how their UPS uniforms give them away. UPS should start exerting more control over this process, or else they could get themselves into some serious trouble.

Ben @ Dec 21st 2006 10:22PM

BTW, actually LordMinogue you are the idiot. Right to a job, whatever that is, and "right to work," which is what the original poster said, are two different things. Right to work laws "are statutes enforced in several U.S. States, allowed under provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act, which prohibit trade unions from making membership a condition of employment, either before or after hire" (wikipedia). In keeping with his first comment, right to work is a very free market idea. And I think any credibility on your ensuing comments have gone out the window, as uninformed as they were to begin with. Maybe try taking a public policy class before you start arguing about labor issues with incorrect information.

delsvr @ Dec 22nd 2006 1:15AM

$19,000. That's like, what, 2 maybe 3 PS3s?

honestgamer @ Dec 22nd 2006 1:48AM

People hoping these UPS drivers get fired are amusing. It won't matter if they're fired. They can't deliver packages from jail, which is where they're headed. And because they're going to jail, unemployment is all but a complete certainty; most jobs have a general policy that says you are fired for breaking the law on shift.

tgzlinuxfan @ Dec 26th 2006 12:10PM

As a part-time supervisor at UPS I know it is possible to steal from customers. However, loss prevention is very tough on employees. For example, everyone from the head boss to the lowest guy ends up having to pass through a metal detector to enter and exit my hub. A few years back a kid was fired for drinking a water bottle that came out of a package that got busted open. Trust me they will be fired if they steal. No if and or buts.

Vision77 @ Dec 26th 2006 8:01PM

As an Part-Time supervisor who has worked at the UPS CACH facility for 8 years, I can honestly tell you we do not take theft lightly. CACH is an automated hub equipped with cameras (RECENTLY UPGRADED) that read smart labels and internally track packages. These strategically placed cameras read the labels and direct the packages through the automated system to the correct destination trailer to be loaded. If something happens with a package we check the internal tracking system to see where the package was last read by one of the label reading cameras and then investigate. The Sony smart labels look different from all other UPS smart labels. I supervise two areas which are responsible for making sure smaller packages(including a sizable amount of Sony drop-shipments)get processed. All packages have to be origin scanned. Scanning the packages link the packages to the people who scanned them and the trailers or package cars they are loaded in. These guys were attaching labels in the middle of the process. When the problem was reported, security probably checked the tracking system for suspicious activity and this would have been an easy pattern to see. So these guys were destined to fail from the get go. Security is very strict at the CACH facility. We have to go through security checks upon entering and exiting the facility.(Metal detectors/wands/bags x-rayed) There are also visible and hidden security cameras placed all over the property. I've even seen thieves set up with ink exploding dummy packages. Cash rewards are offered for turning in thieves.

Oh and to Otakucode your comments have only highlighted your overwhelming ignorance to the shipping industry. Theft is a problem with every shipping company whether it be internally or someone stealing Christmas presents from someones porch This theft occurred before the packages reached the drivers. In most cases the drivers would have only been able to react after the theft. UPS has a no tolerance policy for theft whether you are a driver, supervisor, manager, CEO etc.