home invasion

UK

2026-10-03 10:17:09

Masked intruders in Solihull forced UK husband to transfer crypto during 45-minute assault

A couple in Solihull, UK, were attacked in their home last December by three masked men in what BBC described as a "wrench attack" targeting a crypto holder. The husband, identified under the pseudonym James, said he was repeatedly struck in the head and ribs with a hammer, while his wife, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was pinned to a sofa and had a pillow pressed over her face. The attackers threatened to stab his wife and kill their unborn baby unless he transferred cryptocurrency worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. James said he was forced to move his crypto savings to a wallet controlled by people directing the assailants remotely. The intruders also stole several Rolex watches before fleeing by car. Police are investigating, and the charity Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information. The baby has since been born at full term, and both mother and child are safe.

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UK

2026-10-02 11:53:25

Couple in Birmingham robbed at knifepoint and forced to transfer crypto, police say

Police in England’s West Midlands said a young couple in Smith Wood, Birmingham, were targeted in what investigators believe was a planned home invasion tied to cryptocurrency. According to police, the incident took place on December 13, 2025, when the couple returned home and three men got out of a nearby vehicle, forced their way inside, and demanded the transfer of a large amount of crypto. A fourth person was said to be directing the attackers over a video call during the break-in. Police said the husband was assaulted and seriously injured, while his wife, who was pregnant at the time, was threatened with a knife. The attackers left with the cryptocurrency and several high-value watches, then fled in what was described as a black BMW X3. Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

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Policy and Re

2026-10-01 11:13:36

Dallas arrests made in case targeting wealthy crypto holders, San Jose police say

Police in Dallas, Texas, have arrested two suspects accused of attempting a home invasion robbery aimed at cryptocurrency holders, according to an official statement from the San Jose Police Department in California. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Damian Vielma and 19-year-old Jeremiah Clybourn. The case began on the night of Sept. 5, when the two men allegedly posed as delivery workers at a residence. Police said one of them wore a ski mask, pulled a gun, and tried to force entry before fleeing after the attempt failed. Investigators said the pair are tied to a series of cases spanning multiple jurisdictions. Authorities said the method was consistent across those incidents: posing as delivery personnel and targeting high-net-worth individuals believed to hold large cryptocurrency assets. Law enforcement officers later seized the firearm allegedly used in the case, along with other evidence, from the suspects’ residence. Both men are being held at the Dallas County Jail and are awaiting extradition back to California for trial.

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France

2026-09-30 00:49:44

Three suspects arrested after crypto-linked home extortion attack near Montpellier

A resident of Saint-Jean-de-Védas, near Montpellier in southern France, was targeted in a home extortion attack linked to cryptocurrency, according to a report by Fabien Arnaud of French media outlet Midi Libre. Police moved quickly after the incident and arrested three suspects. The report also said the victim had already faced a similar violent extortion attempt tied to cryptocurrency on April 11 this year. The case adds to a string of criminal incidents in which digital asset holders or people perceived to hold crypto become direct targets of violence or coercion. No further details on the suspects, the assets involved, or the exact circumstances of the attack were disclosed in the brief report cited by ChainCatcher.

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UK Police

2026-09-26 00:37:47

UK police seek tips in crypto home invasion case with £10,000 reward

Police in England’s West Midlands have publicized a home invasion tied to cryptocurrency and said the charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information. The case dates to Dec. 13, 2025, when three men allegedly entered the home of a young couple. According to the police account, a fourth person directed the intruders over a video call while the couple was forced to transfer a large amount of cryptocurrency. Several expensive watches were also taken. Police said the husband was beaten and seriously injured during the attack, while his wife, who was pregnant at the time, was threatened with a knife. Investigators believe the incident may have been a planned and targeted attack. Authorities have not disclosed the exact amount of cryptocurrency stolen. The item was published by Techub News, with the source attributed to Wu Blockchain.

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France

2026-09-21 05:40:42

French crypto worker robbed at home and forced to transfer €40,000 in digital assets

A crypto industry worker in northern France was forced to transfer €40,000 worth of cryptocurrency after four masked men broke into the family home, according to a Techub report citing the local prosecutor’s office. The attack took place in the early hours of Sept. 20 in Vendin-le-Vieil, Pas-de-Calais. Family members were tied up during the robbery, and the victim’s 12-year-old daughter was struck in the face with a car key. The assailants reportedly demanded identity details and access codes. The case comes as violent crimes targeting crypto holders continue to rise in France. The country’s interior minister said in June that authorities had recorded 77 cases this year involving kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and extortion linked to such targets. Chainalysis data cited in the report showed that, by mid-2026, France had logged 30 public incidents, already exceeding the total for all of last year.

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ZachXBT

2026-08-24 12:07:53

ZachXBT Says French Suspect Used M1llionz Alias in Crypto Laundering Case

ChainCatcher reported that blockchain investigator ZachXBT said his probe found a French cybercrime suspect using the M1llionz (RichMilly666) identity was involved in laundering crypto assets tied to two violent home invasions in France. The two cases took place in April 2026 and involved about $667,000 in total. ZachXBT said some of the funds were bridged through Chainflip to Ethereum and sent to multiple KuCoin deposit addresses, where $93,000 USDT has since been frozen after he alerted Tether and law enforcement.

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France

2026-08-12 15:49:07

French couple targeted three times after buying former crypto millionaire’s home

A couple in France’s Somme department was hit by three break-ins in less than a month after purchasing a house previously owned by a cryptocurrency millionaire, according to The Block. The attackers reportedly acted on leaked tax records and address details from the former owner that had circulated on the dark web, leading them to believe the new residents held roughly €1 million in crypto assets. In the first incident, the intruders were driven off by the couple’s dog. In the second, the residents were overpowered and the assault was streamed on Snapchat before the attackers realized they had the wrong target and fled. A third attempt was stopped by the home’s alarm system. The Amiens criminal court later convicted two men involved in the third break-in. The two defendants, aged 20 and 21, were sentenced to three years and 18 months in prison, respectively.

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