Police are investigating a high-value theft in Oxford after masked attackers compelled their means right into a automotive and stole a luxurious watch and greater than £1.1 million in cryptocurrency.
Key Takeaways:
- Masked robbers stole a £450,000 watch and compelled a sufferer to switch £1.1 million in crypto throughout a automotive ambush in Oxford.
- Police are looking for footage of three automobiles linked to the assault.
- 4 males have been arrested on suspicion of theft and kidnap, although all have been launched on bail.
The incident, which passed off on the afternoon of Nov. 4, concerned two males and three girls who have been travelling from Oxford towards London when the group was ambushed, Thames Valley Police stated.
Oxford Police Hunt Suspects After Victims Pressured to Switch £1.1M in Crypto
In line with investigators, the robbers took the victims’ telephones and a £450,000 watch earlier than compelling one in all them to switch £1.1 million value of crypto from their account.
The group was then deserted within the 5 Mile Drive space of Oxford because the attackers fled.
Detective Sergeant Stuart McMaster issued an attraction for witnesses, urging residents and drivers to examine dashcam or CCTV footage for 3 automobiles believed to be linked to the crime: a black BMW saloon, a blue Hyundai Ioniq, and a silver Mercedes-Benz Vito.
Police are notably keen on sightings round Yarnton Street and Sandy Lane between Kidlington and Yarnton, in addition to in 5 Mile Drive, Carey Shut, Rotherfield Street and Kirk Shut between 1 pm and 4 pm on the day of the theft.
McMaster stated the drive has launched an in depth investigation involving house-to-house inquiries, CCTV opinions, automated quantity plate recognition (ANPR) knowledge, digital forensics and cryptocurrency tracing.
Officers have executed warrants in London and Birmingham and made a number of arrests in Kent.
Police have arrested 4 males in reference to the case: a 21-year-old and a 37-year-old from London, a 23-year-old from Kent, and a 19-year-old from Birmingham, all on suspicion of theft and kidnap, with extra costs in some situations.
All 4 have been launched on bail, with return dates set between January and February 2026.
Police are urging anybody with info or related footage to come back ahead.
Crypto-Associated Bodily Assaults Surge 169% in Six Months
As reported, bodily assaults focusing on Bitcoin and crypto holders are rising at an alarming price, based on new knowledge tracked by CASA co-founder Jameson Lopp.
Since late February, 35 new violent incidents have been reported globally, a 169% enhance in simply six and a half months.
The uptick provides to an already troubling development, as cryptocurrency markets proceed their bullish run.
In complete, 48 assaults have occurred to this point in 2025, marking a 33% enhance over all of 2024. France alone has accounted for 14 of this 12 months’s reported incidents.
One of the disturbing instances passed off on September 6 in Cambridge, Canada, the place a younger man was kidnapped at gunpoint and compelled to switch funds right into a cryptocurrency pockets.
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