British police and Crimestoppers are offering a £10,000 reward for information following a violent 2025 home invasion in Solihull. Armed intruders forced a couple to transfer cryptocurrency while threatening the heavily pregnant wife at knifepoint.
The Solihull Home Invasion and the £10,000 Reward Offer
Authorities have stepped up efforts to identify the four masked men responsible for a targeted robbery in Smith’s Wood, Solihull. The attack took place on December 13, 2025, as the couple returned home at approximately 5:20 PM and were ambushed by suspects jumping from a car.
The husband suffered significant injuries during the ordeal, while his wife—who was pregnant with their third child—was threatened with a knife. Security footage captured the terrifying raid, which culminated in the theft of digital assets and valuable watches before the perpetrators fled in a black BMW X3.
How the Coerced Crypto Transfer Unfolded in Real Time
The intruders forced their way past the front door wearing balaclavas and gloves. Despite taking severe blows to the face, head, and ribs with hammers, the husband attempted to fight off the attackers before they overpowered him and demanded access to his digital holdings.
According to the victims’ accounts, the men on site relied on external instructions during the raid.
I can hear the guy on FaceTime saying: ‘Show me everything on his phone. Show me what apps he’s got.’
James, victim, via Yahoo
When the remote caller identified a wallet containing substantial funds, the threats escalated sharply. The intruders stated that if the husband did not comply immediately, they would stab his wife in the stomach and kill their baby. Under extreme duress, the victim transferred cryptocurrency to the wallet specified on the video call.
Crimestoppers Offers Reward for Four Young Attackers
The independent charity Crimestoppers announced a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offenders. Investigators believe the attack was meticulously planned by a four-person gang, which included three intruders inside the property and a fourth person directing them via video call.
All attackers are believed to be in their late teens or early twenties.
That scar under the eyebrow may be the detail that brings a face to mind.
Alan Edwards, West Midlands regional manager at Crimestoppers, via SWNS
The Global Rise of Violent Wrench Attacks on Crypto Holders
Security researchers at Chainalysis note that self-custodied digital assets lack the institutional safeguards of traditional banking, creating unique physical vulnerabilities. Unlike bank balances that can be frozen or reimbursed following fraud, blockchain transfers are irreversible.
Industry data shows that $30m (£22.6m) had been stolen globally in violent robberies up to June 2026, making the year likely to become the single-worst year for violent crypto attacks on record. Hotspots have emerged across the United States, Brazil, Thailand, and France—where a tax office data breach allegedly exposed the identities of wealthy asset holders.
Security experts suggest that countermeasures such as multisignature wallets, time-locked transactions, or physical asset segregation can reduce the viability of home invasions by ensuring no single person can unlock funds under immediate threat.