£10K Reward After UK Couple Robbed of Crypto in Home Attack

Imagine coming home and being forced to hand over your money at knifepoint. That's what happened to a young couple in Birmingham, UK — but instead of cash, the robbers wanted their cryptocurrency (digital money that exists only online).

The attack took place on December 13 in Smith's Wood, near Birmingham. As the couple opened their front door, three men rushed in behind them. Police believe the attack was carefully planned and targeted.

Here's what happened during the robbery:

• The husband was assaulted and badly injured.
• His pregnant wife was threatened with a knife.
• The couple were forced to transfer their crypto to a wallet (a digital account for storing cryptocurrency) controlled by the attackers.
• The robbers also took several expensive watches and fled in what's believed to be a black BMW.

One chilling detail: a fourth person watched and gave instructions over a video call without ever being in the room. This shows how organized these crimes have become — with masterminds directing attackers from a distance.

Crimestoppers, a UK charity that collects anonymous crime tips, is now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

These kinds of crimes are known as "wrench attacks" — where criminals use physical violence to force people to give up their crypto, instead of hacking computers. According to security firm CertiK:

• Home invasions made up about 41% of physical crypto attacks in early 2026.
• There were 52 verified attacks, with victims losing around $124.1 million total.
• Europe accounted for three-quarters of these cases, with France hit hardest (33 incidents).

The takeaway: As cryptocurrency grows more valuable, criminals are increasingly targeting owners in person. Because crypto transfers are fast and hard to reverse, holders — especially those known to own large amounts — face real physical risks. Anyone with information about the Birmingham case is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://decrypt.co/379186/10k-reward-offered-after-uk-couple-attacked-in-crypto-home-invasion