PS5 consoles are so popular these days that thieves are doing everything from stealing devices from moving trucks to stealing devices from Amazon packages.

The new consoles are in such short supply that scalpers are even using special software to buy them online and resell them. With the holidays approaching, the $399 PS5 is a popular gift item, but some thieves are ruining the buzz for aspiring gamers.

"It's clear that they intend to sell the consoles for money — that's what happens when high-demand items are stolen," Lauren R. Shapiro, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said in an email interview. "Organized shoplifters are typically given a list of items that customers want, and then the shoplifters are sent into stores to grab everything on the list. Organized retail criminals operate at local, regional, national and international levels, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for retailers."

In England, gangs are reportedly risking life and limb to get their hands on consoles, using multiple vehicles to corner a lorry travelling at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. In a typical heist, a thief climbs out through a sunroof or modified hatch, uses a cutting tool or crowbar to break into the lorry, climbs in and then removes the PS5s. They’ve used this risky tactic 27 times.