BlockBeats report: On May 23, UK police announced that five individuals have been sentenced in connection with a "wrench attack" targeting cryptocurrency holders. In July 2025, the suspects met the victim at a bar in Shoreditch, London, forcibly took him to their home, and used violent threats and facial recognition verification to compel him to access his bank and cryptocurrency accounts, stealing over £10,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, and a watch.
During the investigation, the cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase reported suspicious activity on the victim's account to the police, who subsequently identified and arrested the individuals involved.
The court ultimately sentenced the four main offenders to prison terms ranging from three and a half to six and a half years, while another individual involved was sentenced to community service for money laundering. Police stated that the case caused long-term psychological trauma to the victims and their families, highlighting the rising risk of offline violent crimes targeting holders of crypto assets.