In one bizarre incident, housebreaking robbers threatened a man with a machete over his Bitcoin stash. The robbers also used one very interesting piece of weapon: a Toblerone chocolate bar.
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The incident was reported in Scotland and has only now gained attention this month as Scottish prosecutors seized 23.5 Bitcoin and exchanged them for cash – marking a legal first for the country.
The Bitcoin Robbery: A Disturbing Encounter
The robbery took place in a quiet neighborhood near Glasgow late one night. The victim, known to be a cryptocurrency enthusiast, was inside his house when three masked men broke open the back door.
Using the machete and a big Toblerone to get the digital assets from him, the intruders were instilling fear into the victim. According to additional reports, one of the attackers just used the chocolate bar to bludgeon the victim several times.
The scene was chaotic and terrifying, with the robbers threatening to harm the homeowners to get what they want. In this state of compulsion, the victim had to turn on his computer and transferred his Bitcoin into the wallet of the attackers.
The quantity that was taken is not determined but was significant enough to build a serious case of crime. The attackers fled quickly out of the scene of the robbery and left him shaken but fortunately unharmed.
Bitcoin market cap currently at $1.16 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
Jurisprudence And Historical Account
Forward to September 2024, and the case takes a dramatic turn in the legal domain. As the “technical brains” behind the heist, John Ross Rennie was prosecuted under Scotland’s Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Prosecutors claimed he played a fundamental role in the crime, against claims from Rennie that he had been coerced by a close relative to deposit the stolen Bitcoin. The High Court in Edinburgh cleared the way for the 23.5 Bitcoin to be converted into cash with a value of £109,601.
The ruling is the first of its kind in Scotland where cryptocurrency has been seized and turned into cash under such legislation.
Detective Inspector Craig Potter of the Cyber Investigations unit said:
“This is a very unique case, which is a first in Scotland whereby cryptocurrency was traced to bring money back to its rightful owner.”
A number of questions have also been raised about the difficulty of prosecuting crypto-related crimes, as legal proceedings unfold–considering the anonymity and speed at which digital currencies can change hands.
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The Growing Threat Of Crypto Crimes
This episode illustrates a general pattern of rising violence connected with bitcoin theft. As cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin become valuable, they attract more criminals willing to resort to extreme measures.
Using unusual weapons, such as a Toblerone bar, emphasizes the erratic character of such events and gives the crime a comical element.
Featured image from Food & Wine, chart from TradingView