Summary
- Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for details concerning a violent home invasion in the West Midlands.
- During the robbery, a fourth accomplice provided instructions via video call.
- According to CertiK, home invasions are increasingly common in crypto-related crimes.
A couple in the West Midlands experienced a traumatic home invasion where three men forced them to transfer a substantial amount of cryptocurrency. A fourth individual guided the attackers through a video call, suggesting the invasion was premeditated.
Crimestoppers, a charity that collects anonymous crime tips in the UK, is offering
Our charity is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information following a violent attack on a young couple in their home in Birmingham on December 13, 2025.
If you have information about this attack, contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously.https://t.co/VYnZDS4U9q pic.twitter.com/4q2rxXhH4t
— Crimestoppers (@CrimestoppersUK) September 24, 2026
The couple returned to their residence in Smith's Wood, Solihull, near Birmingham, around 5:20 PM on Saturday, December 13. Upon opening their front door, they were confronted by three men who had exited a nearby vehicle and forced their way inside.
The husband was assaulted and sustained serious injuries, while his pregnant wife was threatened with a knife. They were compelled to transfer funds to a wallet controlled by the assailants, as reported by BBC News. The attackers left with the cryptocurrency and several expensive watches, reportedly in a black BMW X3.
All four individuals involved are believed to be in their twenties. Due to their face coverings and hoods, providing descriptions has been challenging, although one suspect was noted to be a black man with a small diagonal scar under his left eyebrow.
Alan Edwards, Crimestoppers' regional manager for the West Midlands, stated, "Four people planned this and four people know exactly what happened that evening," adding that others may have been informed afterward or noticed a sudden influx of cash among acquaintances.
Rise of Crypto "Wrench Attacks"
According to CertiK, home invasions have become the primary method of physical attacks against cryptocurrency holders in the first half of 2026. These incidents surged to 20 cases, representing about 41% of all reported crypto-related crimes, up from just one case a year prior. The security firm documented a total of 52 attacks, resulting in losses of $124.1 million.
CertiK noted a complex structure behind these crimes, where organizers purchase data and orchestrate logistics, while the actual attackers execute the plans. The fourth individual who directed the robbery via video call fits this profile.
Europe accounted for three-quarters of the verified cases, with France being the epicenter of this crime wave, recording 33 incidents in just the first half of this year. Recently, a worker in the crypto sector was attacked and forced to transfer his crypto assets while his wife and children were held hostage during a similar invasion.