More than 12,000 new Samsung Folds and Flips stolen in £8m heist

If you’re offered a Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Flip 7 anytime soon;  beware. A truck carrying thousands of Samsung’s flagship devices was hijacked near Heathrow Airport on Monday, in what could be one of the biggest tech cargo thefts in recent years.

The vehicle was reportedly transporting more than 12,000 Samsung units, including up to 5,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 handsets, 5,000 Galaxy Z Flip 7 devices, and a quantity of Galaxy Watch 8 wearables, when it was intercepted and stolen in transit.

The stolen shipment is estimated to be worth around £8.3 million and the loss is likely to play bavoc with Samsung;s distribution plans.. The truck was later recovered by police.

The incident comes less than a month after Samsung’s global launch of its new foldables, which have reportedly generated more pre-orders than any previous Galaxy Fold or Flip models.

Samsung has yet to issue an official statement, and it’s unclear whether the hijacked cargo was destined for retail stores, direct customer fulfilment, or a distribution centre. However, the stolen devices will likely have had their IMEI numbers blacklisted and been remotely disabled to prevent resale.

Industry sources predict that listings for the stolen Fold 7 and Flip 7 handsets may begin appearing on online marketplaces in the coming weeks.

Distributors, retailers, and consumers are being urged to verify IMEI numbers and avoid purchasing devices from unofficial or suspicious sources.