I love video games as much as the next guy, shoot we here at Loot Ninja are trying to make a living out of it, but none of us would throw our day jobs away just to get a copy of a game a few days early. Would you?

Well looks like a couple of UPS workers have answered yes and tried to do the deed and snag an early copy of GTA IV. In a recent interview with a UPS worker we heard the following:

“When we have a [big name release], we communicate it to operations and security teams. We have security in place at the facilities, and we make sure they understand to keep an eye out for things to exit the building,” he explained. How did they find where games were stolen? “We had tips from people inside, and some of them were discovered at intermediate hubs… it’s easy to spot: flaps torn, some boxes are re-taped.” In most cases, the bust is as easy as finding the last person who scanned the box as full and interviewing them.

They are on to you guys, it isn’t a secret that GTA IV is coming out and that people will try to get it early, but you cant fool the UPS. Sad part is that people aren’t even doing this to pirate the game or resell them, instead they are taking singular copies just to play early.

“They’re not selling them, these people are stealing one copy,” he told me—all of the thefts seem to be for personal use. It seems many people think stealing a game a few days before release is worth it, and this is far from the perfect crime.

Even though these guys aren’t planning to resell and are only boosting a single copy the people at UPS aren’t laughing and are taking this very seriously, as seriously as firing people from their jobs.

“As long as the people loading the packages are doing their jobs, it’s easy to track down,” our source told Ars. “It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? It’s a game about theft, and people are stealing it.” His eyes began to shine as he said, “and I get to terminate them.”

So just wait the few hours left and get a legit copy. Your family and career will thank you.

[Via ArsTechnica]