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While these were some of the most valuable items stolen, they were not the only ones. The employee also stole numerous articles of clothing in a string of thefts stretching back before the crisis around console shortages. While the driver accused of trying to steal an Xbox Series X was no doubt thinking solely of the rare console, this USPS employee was clearly aiming for a broader market. They were fined $20,000 and sentenced to three years of probation, the first nine months of which include home confinement, which hardly sounds out of place these days.

Of course, delivery workers are far from the greatest reason that PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles remain rare even now. PS5 and Xbox Series X scalpers took advantage of the frenzy for the consoles and bought up huge swathes of them, selling them back at outrageous prices. It represents a problem that must be addressed before the next generation really gets underway.

Thieves are not, of course, limited to the actual delivery workers. The thefts are, if anything, more audacious in the UK, where gangs steal packages with tactics straight out of a Fast and Furious movie. Many might not think of game consoles as metallic gold, but they move much, much more dough than people give credit for. And considering how expensive every game console in existence is, that’s saying a lot.

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Source: Polygon