In one bizarre incident, burglars threatened a man with a machete for his stash of Bitcoins. The robbers also used one very fascinating piece of weapon: Toblerone chocolate bar.
The incident was reported in Scotland but only this month did Scottish prosecutors begin to take notice of it. 23.5 Bitcoins confiscated and exchanged them for cash – the first legal action of this type in the country.
Bitcoin Theft: A Disturbing Encounter
The attack took place in a silent part of Glasgow slow at night. The victim, a known cryptocurrency enthusiast, was at home when three masked men kicked down the back door.
Using a machete and a vast Toblerone to extract digital assets from him, the intruders instilled fear in the victim. According to additional reports, one of the attackers used a chocolate bar to repeatedly strike the victim.
The scene was confused and terrifying, with the robbers threatening to harm the homeowners to get what they wanted. In this state of duress, the victim was forced to turn on their computer and transfer their Bitcoins to the attackers’ wallet.
The amount that was taken was not determined, but it was significant enough to build a earnest criminal case. The attackers quickly fled the scene, leaving him shaken but fortunately uninjured.
Bitcoin market cap currently at $1.16 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
Jurisprudence and historical account
Flash forward to September 2024 and the case takes a dramatic legal turn as the ‘technical mastermind’ behind the heist, John Ross Rennie has been charged under Scotland’s Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Prosecutors argued he played a key role in the crime, despite Rennie’s claims that he was forced by a close relative to deposit the stolen Bitcoins. The High Court in Edinburgh cleared the way for 23.5 Bitcoins to be converted into cash worth £109,601.
This the ruling is the first of its kind in Scotland, where cryptocurrency was confiscated and converted into cash under such legislation.
Detective Inspector Craig Potter of Cyber Investigations said:
“This is a unique case, the first in Scotland, where cryptocurrency has been traced and the money has been recovered from its rightful owner.”
There have also been many questions about the difficulty of prosecuting cryptocurrency-related crimes as legal proceedings unfold, given the anonymity and speed with which digital currencies can change hands.
Growing Threat of Crypto Crime
The episode illustrates a general pattern of increasing violence related to bitcoin theft. As cryptocurrencies like bitcoin gain in value, they attract more criminals willing to resort to extreme measures.
The apply of unusual weapons, such as a Toblerone tablet, highlights the unpredictability of such events and gives the crime a comic element.
Featured image from Food & Wine, Chart from TradingView
