Crimestoppers offers £10,000 reward over crypto robbery directed by remote fourth suspect

A crypto robbery in the West Midlands has prompted a £10,000 reward for information after three masked men allegedly forced their way into a couple’s home and compelled them to transfer a substantial amount of cryptocurrency.

The incident happened on December 13, 2025, in Smith’s Wood, Solihull, on the eastern edge of Birmingham, with investigators describing the incident as a planned and targeted attack.

Crimestoppers announced the reward on September 24, 2026, seeking information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.Fourth suspect allegedly directed crypto robbery

The couple had reportedly arrived home at approximately 5:20 p.m. when three men emerged from a nearby vehicle and forced their way inside.

According to reporting based on police information, the male victim was assaulted and sustained significant injuries, while his pregnant wife was threatened with a knife.

The attackers allegedly forced the couple to move cryptocurrency into a wallet controlled by them. Several high-value watches were also reportedly taken before the suspects left in a vehicle believed to have been a black BMW X3.

Investigators believe the operation involved four people. Three allegedly entered the property, while a fourth person is reported to have communicated with them remotely through a video call and provided instructions during the incident.

All four suspects are believed to be in their twenties, according to the reporting. Because the men wore hoods and face coverings, investigators have faced difficulties obtaining clear descriptions. One suspect was described as a Black man with a small diagonal scar beneath his left eyebrow.

The reported use of a remote coordinator is significant because it suggests that those involved in a crypto robbery do not necessarily need to be physically present at the location where cryptocurrency is obtained.

Crimestoppers’ West Midlands regional manager Alan Edwards appealed for information from people who may have learned about the incident afterward or noticed unusual activity connected to the suspects.

Edwards also pointed to people who may have noticed a friend or relative suddenly possessing significant amounts of money, as well as anyone who may have seen the suspected black BMW X3 in the area around the time of the incident.

£10,000 reward offered for information

Crimestoppers is offering up to £10,000 for information that results in an arrest and conviction in connection with the crypto robbery. The charity operates independently from the police and allows members of the public to provide information anonymously.

The reward is intended to encourage witnesses or others with relevant information to come forward without directly identifying themselves. According to the reporting, information can be supplied through Crimestoppers anonymously, with the charity stating that tipsters do not have to provide their names.

The crypto robbery also demonstrates why investors who hold substantial digital-asset balances need to consider security beyond passwords, hardware wallets and two-factor authentication.

Cryptocurrency can be technically secured against unauthorized online access while the individual controlling the assets remains vulnerable to physical coercion.

Crypto investors face growing physical security concerns

The Birmingham-area crypto robbery comes amid broader reporting about physical attacks against cryptocurrency holders.

Decrypt, citing blockchain security firm CertiK, reported that home invasions accounted for 20 of 52 verified physical attacks targeting crypto holders during the first half of 2026, representing roughly 41% of the incidents tracked by the firm.

CertiK’s figures concern verified incidents rather than every cryptocurrency-related crime globally, so they should not be interpreted as a comprehensive measure of all crypto crime.

The crypto robbery serves as a reminder that publicly revealing cryptocurrency holdings can potentially create risks that conventional cybersecurity measures cannot fully address.

Digital assets may be stored on-chain, but access to them can depend on people, devices, recovery phrases, private keys or other credentials that can become targets in a physical attack.

The Solihull investigation remains focused on identifying the people involved. Crimestoppers’ £10,000 offer provides an additional avenue for information as authorities continue efforts to establish who organized and carried out the crypto robbery.

The case therefore extends the security conversation beyond blockchain exploits and online fraud. For crypto investors, protecting digital wealth increasingly involves considering both cyber threats and the possibility of targeted physical attacks.