In a major heist near London’s Heathrow Airport, thieves have stolen a truck carrying more than 12,000 Samsung devices – most notably its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.

Valued at nearly A$14.5 million, the shipment also included the newly launched Galaxy Watch 8, as well as Galaxy S25 and A16 smartphones, making this one of the largest consumer electronics thefts in recent UK history.

The truck was reportedly stolen after it had been moved from the airport to a nearby warehouse.

UK authorities have since located the truck, but it remains unclear how much of the cargo, if any, was recovered.

Initial reports suggest the haul included 5,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 units, which retail in the UK for £1,799 (A$3,480) and £1,149 (A$2,225) respectively, along with 5,000 Galaxy Watch 8s.

The total estimated loss is around US$10 million (AU$14.5 million), although Samsung is believed to have insured the shipment, potentially mitigating financial losses.

Samsung is reportedly working closely with UK law enforcement. The company is also expected to remotely blacklist and lock all stolen devices, rendering them unusable and unsellable in legitimate markets.

The theft comes just weeks after the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 went on sale following record-breaking pre-orders in key markets, including Australia. Both foldables feature slimmer profiles, upgraded processors, and improved cameras.

The incident has sparked concerns about short-term stock disruptions in the UK and potentially across Europe, though Samsung has not yet commented on any changes to its distribution plans.

The heist follows recent high-value tech cargo thefts, such as the seizure of nearly 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles worth US$1.4 million (A$2.16 million) in Texas.