The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida says it busted a major theft ring targeting semi trucks’ Electronic Control Modules (ECMs). Four people were arrested after the investigation wrapped up in July 2025.
What happened: Deputies began looking into the crime spree in May, when a detective spotted someone breaking into a Freightliner truck at a lot in Hillsborough County. That tip led to uncovering a group involved in stealing ECMs from at least 93 trucks across several Florida counties.
- The thieves broke into parked trucks, damaging engine compartments to rip out the ECMs — the "brains" that make modern trucks work.
- After the ECMs were stolen, detectives say they were shipped to a broker in Texas who wiped them clean so they could be sold again.
- Losses from stolen and damaged equipment are estimated at more than $750,000.
Who was arrested: The four suspects, identified as Cuban nationals living in Florida without legal status, each face multiple felony charges including racketeering, grand theft, and burglary.
Why it matters: Truckers rely on their rigs to provide for their families. When thieves pull an ECM, that truck is out of commission until it’s fixed, costing drivers time and money. "I shudder to think about the value of money that they’ve lost, that their families suffered, that income, because of these four individuals," Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
Some ECMs can go for $3,000 to $10,000 each on the black market.
The sheriff’s office worked with the Florida Attorney General and other counties, serving 25 warrants before the arrests.