British Bitcoin broker heist shocks South Oxfordshire village
Jan 29, 2018
Oxfordshire, UK: Last week, a 30-year-old Bitcoin trader was coerced into transferring a fortune of his cryptocurrency when four balaclava-wearing robbers invaded his home, tied up his girlfriend, left their baby in a pram outside while holding him at gunpoint.
This is believed to be the first cryptocurrency heist in the UK as reported by the Mail Online, Sky News, The Times, The Telegraph and Evening Standard. Neighbours, as well as staff and students at a nearby school, were left in shock as a police helicopter hovered over the quiet village in search of the offenders where break-and-enter crimes are uncommon.
Beyond the borders of the small town, the traumatic transfer has now placed the safety claims of cryptocurrency under scrutiny. Does a public ledger (where every transaction is visible to the world), guarantee safety from physical muggings?
For this trader who had reportedly conducted over 100,000 Bitcoin transactions, sadly not.
Excerpt from Mail Online article
Last night, a Thames Valley Police spokesman confirmed an ‘aggravated burglary’ took place in Moulsford and said they believed the property was targeted...
The police spokesman said: ‘Officers were called at about 9.40am to a report that offenders had entered a residential property off Reading Road and threatened the occupants. No one was seriously injured during the incident. The National Police Air Service helicopter was deployed to this incident.
"The village is in a real state of shock right now. For something like this to happen here is terrifying. It’s a very quiet place and, although there is a lot of money round here, a digital currency heist is the last thing anyone would expect – particularly during the school run."
‘Officers are particularly interested in speaking to anyone travelling through the village on the A329 Reading Road between 7.30am and 10.30am on Monday who has dashcam footage, or anyone with mobile-phone footage.
Danny Aston, 30, and his girlfriend, Amy Jay, 31, are believed to be victims of the UK’s first bitcoin heist after they were attacked at their home in a quiet Oxfordshire village, from where they ran a digital currency company.
Read full Mail Online article here
Sources
Bucks, Jonathan. 'Gun ordeal of family in UK's first Bitcoin heist: Armed intruders force man to transfer cyber currency in raid at TV Midsomer village home'. Mail Online. The Mail On Sunday. Electronically published January 27, 2018. Accessed January 29, 2018.
Contributor. 'Police appeal for witnesses after trader 'forced at gunpoint to transfer Bitcoin'. Sky News. Electronically published January 28, 2018. Accessed 29, January 2018.
Diver, Tony. 'Britain's first Bitcoin heist as trader forced at gunpoint to transfer cyber currency'. The Telegraph. Electronically published January 28, 2018. Accessed January 29, 2018.
Hamilton, Fiona. 'Armed gang steals bitcoin fortune in heist'. The Times. Electronically published January 29, 2018. Accessed January 29, 2018.
Rose, Eleanor. 'Bitcoin trader 'targeted by gunmen' in UK's first cryptocurrency heist in sleepy Midsomer Murders village'. Evening Standard. Electronically published January 28, 2018. Accessed 29, January 2018.
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