Two Charged in $287K Apple Cargo Theft on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Two men have been charged in connection with a high-value cargo theft involving Apple merchandise on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, state authorities confirmed this week. The suspects, identified as Lorenzo Vaduva, 24, and Gabriel Chisoiu, 38, are facing multiple charges, including theft, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment.

Orchestrated Theft on a Moving Truck

According to Pennsylvania State Police charging documents cited by ABC27, the cargo heist occurred shortly after a truck driver departed from Carlisle with a shipment of Apple Watches and MacBooks valued at approximately $287,737. The trailer was secured with a bolt seal and equipped with a GPS tracker.

After entering the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the truck was boxed in by a box truck and a sedan, forcing the driver to brake. A third vehicle followed closely behind the semi with its headlights turned off—despite low-light conditions. The driver, unaware that a theft was underway, continued driving until stopping at the Sideling Hill Travel Plaza in Taylor Township. There, he discovered the trailer’s seal had been broken and the GPS device was no longer secure.

Upon inspecting the trailer, the driver found opened pallets and suspected a theft had occurred during transit.

Dash Cam Footage Shows Doors Open and Items Falling Out

State police were able to obtain dash cam footage from a stationary patrol unit. The video showed the trailer's rear doors ajar as the truck traveled along the Turnpike, with items visibly falling out. The footage also showed a white van driving alongside the trailer and a vehicle with no headlights following closely behind—consistent with the driver’s earlier observations.

Troopers launched an investigation, ultimately tracing the suspect vehicles to a store in Perry County, where they had been abandoned. Surveillance footage from the location, along with phone records, social media activity, and assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, led to the identification of Vaduva and Chisoiu.

Suspects in Custody, Awaiting Hearings

Both suspects were taken into custody and are awaiting preliminary court hearings. The Pennsylvania State Police have not disclosed whether the stolen merchandise has been recovered.

Cargo theft remains a growing concern across U.S. highways, particularly involving high-value electronics. This case highlights ongoing challenges for law enforcement and shippers in securing in-transit freight, even when GPS tracking and trailer seals are in place.

Source: CDLLIFE