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   The memory shortage reaches a ridiculous new high - thieves hit South Korean   
   design office, apparently just to steal DDR5 memory   
      
   Date:   
   Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:30:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Soaring DDR5 memory prices turn high-capacity modules into small, valuable   
   targets, prompting specific thefts in exposed office systems.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   A South Korean mine factory recently experienced a theft that focused   
   exclusively on DDR5 memory modules, leaving all other office items untouched.    
      
    Reports shared on a local forum claim an intruder broke the tempered-glass   
   side panels of two desktop computers but ignored desk drawers and other    
   office property.    
      
   The stolen hardware consisted solely of four Micron DDR5-5600 32GB modules   
   rated at CL46, a product line that the company has withdrawn from the    
   consumer market.   
      
   Selective targeting of a scarce but valuable memory    
      
   Interestingly, no other components were reported missing, indicating the act   
   was highly selective rather than opportunistic, and leading some to speculate   
   that the theft was motivated by collection or resale value rather than   
   immediate functional use.    
      
   The market price for high-end DDR5 memory has created conditions where    
   thieves appear willing to bypass other components entirely, focusing only on   
   these scarce modules.    
      
   DDR5 memory saw extreme price increases in recent months, creating conditions   
   that make it a highly desirable target for thieves.    
      
   Recent figures from PCPartPicker claim 32GB DDR5-5600 modules in 2x32GB kits   
   reached roughly $800 on average between October and December 2025.    
      
   Modules with slightly higher specifications, such as DDR5-6000 2x32GB,    
   climbed even further, averaging around $900.    
      
   These values far exceed the original retail prices of about $200 in September   
   2025, making them especially attractive to informed resellers.    
      
   Even lower-capacity modules such as 16GB DDR5-5200 are now commanding high   
   prices, roughly $90 to $120 per stick, depending on brand and market demand.    
      
   Supply limitations and ongoing production bottlenecks for high-performance   
   memory contribute to elevated prices, reinforcing the financial incentives    
   for theft.    
      
   The surge in value and the scarcity of these high-end modules appear to be   
   directly influencing theft patterns.    
      
   The South Korean office theft involved four DDR5-5600 32GB modules,   
   representing a potential combined market value of approximately $1,600.    
      
   The small size of the memory modules, combined with high demand and resale   
   potential, makes them easier to steal and transport than larger or less   
   valuable hardware.    
      
   High-end DDR5 modules are particularly vulnerable to theft, especially when   
   internal components are visible through tempered-glass or transparent cases.    
      
   Systems known to use DDR5 memory face higher risk because thieves can    
   identify and target them specifically, focusing on the high-value modules   
   inside rather than other components.    
      
   That said, organizations may need to increase security measures, including   
   concealing valuable components, restricting physical access, and monitoring   
   high-demand hardware.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-memory-shortage-reaches-a-ridiculous-new-hig   
   h-thieves-hit-south-korean-design-office-apparently-just-to-steal-ddr5-memory   
      
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