- Prices of high-capacity DDR5 memory have risen sharply, creating new targets for theft
- In South Korea, thieves only steal DDR5 modules, ignoring other office hardware
- 32GB DDR5-5600 kits hit around $800 during late 2025 price peaks
A South Korean mining factory was recently the victim of a theft involving only DDR5 memory modules, leaving all other desktop items intact.
Reports shared on a local forum claim that an intruder smashed the tempered glass side panels of two desktop computers, but ignored the desk drawers and other office items.
The stolen hardware consisted of only four 32GB CL46-rated Micron DDR5-5600 modules, a product line that the company has withdrawn from the consumer market.
Selective targeting of rare but valuable memory
Interestingly, no other components were reported missing, indicating that the act was highly selective rather than opportunistic, and leading some to speculate that the theft was motivated by collectability or resale value rather than immediate functional use.
The market price of high-end DDR5 memory has created conditions where thieves seem willing to bypass other components altogether, focusing only on these rare modules.
DDR5 memory has seen extreme price increases in recent months, creating conditions that make it a highly sought-after target for thieves.
Recent figures from PCPartPicker claim that 32GB DDR5-5600 modules in 2 x 32GB kits fetched around $800 on average between October and December 2025.
Modules with slightly higher specs, such as the 2x32GB DDR5-6000, climbed even further, averaging around $900.
These values far exceed initial retail prices of around $200 in September 2025, making them particularly attractive to savvy dealers.
Even lower capacity modules, such as the 16GB DDR5-5200, now command premium prices, between $90 and $120 per stick, depending on the brand and market demand.
Persistent supply limitations and bottlenecks in the production of high-performance memory contribute to high prices, reinforcing financial incentives for theft.
The skyrocketing value and scarcity of these high-end modules appears to directly influence theft trends.
The theft from the South Korean office involved four 32GB DDR5-5600 modules, representing a combined potential street value of approximately $1,600.
The small size of 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 enclosures.
Systems known to use DDR5 memory face higher risks because thieves can identify and target them specifically, focusing on the high-value modules they contain rather than other components.
That said, organizations may need to strengthen their security measures, including hiding valuable components, restricting physical access, and monitoring high-demand hardware.
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