Masked gang beat Solihull man with hammers to force hundreds of thousands in crypto transfer

Three masked men forced their way into a couple's home in Solihull, West Midlands, and beat the man with hammers until he transferred hundreds of thousands of pounds of cryptocurrency. 1 2 The Evening Standard places the attack at around 5.20pm on Saturday 13 December last year, in the Smith's Wood area, after the couple returned home. It says three men got out of a nearby car and followed them in as they opened the front door. 2 The man, whom the BBC calls James, said the assault lasted 45 minutes and that he was hit in the face, head and ribs with hammers. 1 2

His wife, then seven months pregnant with the couple's third child, was held down on the sofa. He said one attacker put a pillow over her face and that he heard her screaming that she could not breathe. 1 2 The intruders were taking instructions from a fourth man on a live video call, who told them to go through the victim's phone and apps. Once he found a crypto wallet with substantial funds, he threatened to stab the wife in the stomach and kill the baby. 1 2 The attackers left after the man sent his crypto savings to the video caller's digital wallet, and they also took several Rolex watches. James said he heard the caller tell the others they could have 10 grand each while he kept the rest. 1 2

The BBC says a getaway driver waited outside, and Crimestoppers has described the car as a black BMW X3. The BBC reports the attack was captured on home security footage. 1 2 West Midlands Police is investigating and believes the attack may have been planned and targeted. It says the wife was also threatened with a knife. No attackers have been identified. 2 1 Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information, given only to the charity, that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. It released CCTV of the attackers entering the property. Alan Edwards of the charity said the offenders appear to be part of an organised crime gang and promised anonymity to anyone who comes forward. 2 1

The attackers are described as young. One is a black man with a small scar under his left eyebrow. The BBC says they are thought to be in their late teens or early 20s, while the Standard says in their twenties. 1 2 The BBC says the baby survived and was born at full term. James, an amateur crypto investor since 2020 who quit his job in 2023 to trade full time, says he lost everything and has little hope of recovering the funds. He wants the attackers brought to justice and his experience to serve as a warning. 1 Experts call this kind of violent theft a "wrench attack". Chainalysis research cited by the BBC says $30m (£22.6m) was stolen in such robberies up to June this year, making 2026 likely to be the worst year on record. It says France has seen by far the most attacks, after a data breach at a tax office that apparently let wealthy crypto holders be located. 1