A British businessman was crushed with hammers by masked intruders who broke into his dwelling and threatened to kill his closely pregnant spouse until he handed over tons of of hundreds of kilos value of cryptocurrency.
The couple, who’ve requested to stay nameless, informed the BBC that the assault was “horrific” and left them fearing for the lifetime of their unborn youngster.
The @BBCNews reviews {that a} #reward of as much as £10,000 is being provided for data after a younger couple had been attacked of their dwelling and compelled to switch a considerable quantity of #cryptocurrency.
The husband suffered important accidents, and his pregnant spouse was threatened… pic.twitter.com/4D4TBASN99
— CryptoUK (@CryptoUKAssoc) September 25, 2026
Police are investigating the incident, which occurred on the couple’s dwelling in Solihull in December final 12 months. Crimestoppers is providing a £10,000 reward for data resulting in these accountable.
The assault is being described as a so-called “wrench assault” — a type of bodily coercion more and more related to cryptocurrency holders, wherein criminals goal buyers on to power them to give up digital belongings.
{Hardware} Pockets Focused in Newest European Crypto Theft
The person, referred to by the BBC as James, mentioned three masked males compelled their means into his dwelling and subjected him to a 45-minute assault.
“The door will get pushed open, I can see gloves coming in, balaclavas,” he mentioned. James tried to battle again however was repeatedly struck within the face, head, and ribs with hammers.
His spouse, who was seven months pregnant on the time, was held down on the couch by one of many attackers. “He’s received a pillow over her face,” James mentioned. “He’s actually suffocating her on the couch. I can hear her screaming, ‘I can’t breathe’.”
The couple initially didn’t know what the attackers wished. That modified when one of many males demanded that James unlock his telephone and hand it over.
In accordance with James, the attackers appeared to know he held cryptocurrency however didn’t know entry his funds. As a substitute, they acquired directions from one other particular person by way of a dwell video name.
“I can hear the man on FaceTime saying: ‘Present me every part on his telephone. Present me what apps he’s received’,” James mentioned. The caller ultimately recognized a cryptocurrency pockets containing a considerable quantity of funds.
The state of affairs then escalated, with James saying the attackers threatened to stab his spouse and kill their unborn youngster until he transferred the cryptocurrency.
“He was principally saying: ‘Look, should you don’t ship us this cash now, we’re going to stab your spouse within the abdomen and kill your child. We’re going to kill your spouse’,” James mentioned.
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Tons of of 1000’s in Crypto Stolen from Terrified Couple
James ultimately transferred his cryptocurrency financial savings, value tons of of hundreds of kilos, to a pockets managed by the person directing the assault remotely.
The criminals additionally stole a number of luxurious Rolex watches earlier than fleeing in a automotive pushed by a getaway driver. James mentioned he then heard the person on the video name inform the attackers: “You’ll be able to have 10 grand every however I’m taking the remaining.”
His spouse, who was in her early thirties and pregnant with the couple’s third youngster, mentioned she feared James had been killed after seeing him mendacity unresponsive on the ground.
“It was terrifying,” she mentioned. The newborn survived the ordeal and was subsequently born at full time period.
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Rise in Crypto Theft Assaults, With Europe the Hotbed
Europe is turning into a no-go zone for crypto folks.
Crypto exec’s daughter practically kidnapped in broad daylight again in 2025
Insane. 🫠 pic.twitter.com/GWJD7R0OEH
— Gasoline (@fuelkek) October 3, 2026
The incident highlights the rising bodily safety dangers confronted by cryptocurrency holders as digital belongings have develop into more and more helpful.
Reviews of crypto theft assaults and different types of bodily coercion have emerged within the UK, France and the US, with criminals concentrating on buyers they imagine maintain important cryptocurrency wealth.
In contrast to conventional financial institution transfers, cryptocurrency transactions could be extraordinarily tough to reverse as soon as funds have been despatched to an attacker-controlled pockets. Relying on the asset and circumstances, recovering stolen crypto may show difficult.
The Solihull assault was captured on dwelling safety footage and stays beneath police investigation.
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