Xinjiang esports hotels hit by memory-module theft scheme

Police in Xinjiang’s Shihezi city arrested two men, identified as Li and Cheng, after they stole a total of 16 DRAM memory modules from four esports‑style hotels over a half‑month period in May. The suspects posed as guests, entered the rooms, opened the computer cases, removed the memory sticks and left, then sold the components through online marketplaces and local digital‑goods shops. The theft netted roughly RMB 13,200 (about NT$6,200 or HK$14,300).

Investigators linked the crimes by reviewing CCTV footage, guest‑registration records and equipment failure logs. The arrests came the day after the hotel operator reported multiple computers could not power on during routine maintenance. Authorities said the two suspects are being held on theft charges while the stolen items and proceeds are being recovered.

The incidents occurred amid a sharp rise in DRAM prices, with market forecasts predicting a 90‑95% increase in contract prices for the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the financial incentive behind the thefts.