Costco has started removing RAM modules from desktop computers on display at its warehouse stores, according to multiple reports from shoppers. The move targets component theft as memory prices climb and make the small parts increasingly valuable.
Display PCs at big-box retailers face a unique problem. They sit on open floors for months, often with easily accessible cases. RAM sticks take seconds to remove and fit in a pocket. Unlike stealing an entire computer, swiping components is quick and less obvious.
The practice isn’t new for retailers. Stores have been pulling graphics cards from display units for years as GPU prices soared. RAM is simply the next target as prices rise. Some high-end memory kits now sell for over $1,000, pushing them into felony theft territory in states with dollar-amount thresholds.
Thieves don’t need to take all the RAM either. Reports describe people removing most sticks while leaving one installed so the display PC still boots. The missing components aren’t immediately obvious unless someone opens the case and checks. Same trick works with GPUs—swap to integrated graphics and the demo keeps running.
Costco’s warehouse format makes component theft easier than traditional retail. Customers can handle products directly, and while exit receipt checks catch full shopping carts, they’re useless against a RAM stick in someone’s pocket.
