Delivery Driver or Deceiver? How One San Francisco Robber Snatched $11M in Crypto—You Won't Believe the Details!

A brazen robbery in San Francisco has spotlighted the risks associated with cryptocurrency ownership as a thief posing as a delivery person made off with a victim's cellphone, laptop, and a staggering $11 million in cryptocurrency. This alarming incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. on a Saturday in the Mission Dolores neighborhood, as detailed in a police report obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Authorities reported that the impersonator brandished a gun, tying the victim up with duct tape before fleeing with the valuable digital assets and personal items. As of now, details regarding the victim's injuries or any arrests remain unclear.

This incident is part of a troubling trend; robberies targeting cryptocurrency holders are reportedly on the rise. Criminals are increasingly seeking to exploit the growing number of investors involved in digital currencies, targeting them for access to accounts potentially worth millions. The high stakes associated with such thefts have raised concerns about the safety of cryptocurrency investors, particularly as digital asset values continue to fluctuate dramatically.

The situation in San Francisco mirrors other alarming cases across the country. In Los Angeles, two individuals were charged for the kidnapping of a teenage boy, whom they threatened with violence to force him into surrendering his cryptocurrency. Former LAPD officer Eric Halem, 38, and alleged Israeli gangster Gabby Ben, 51, both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ben, who has a criminal history involving fraud and previous deportation to Israel, is believed to have connections to the Israeli mafia. Halem, who left the LAPD in 2022, was reportedly exploring opportunities in reality television.

The duo and several accomplices allegedly targeted a luxury apartment in Los Angeles' Koreatown last December, intending to kidnap a teenager engaged in cryptocurrency trading. They entered the apartment armed, but when they discovered the teen was not home, they waited for his return. Upon his arrival, they handcuffed him and demanded he open his cryptocurrency wallet.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the victim initially provided access to an empty wallet. However, the kidnappers escalated their threats, claiming they would shoot him in the foot and waterboard him if he did not comply. Ultimately, the teenager yielded to their demands, providing access to a wallet containing $350,000 in cryptocurrency.

Both Ben and Halem have been denied bail as they await trial, underscoring the serious legal repercussions of such violent crimes. This growing pattern extends beyond California; in another shocking case, a cryptocurrency investor in Manhattan was arrested for allegedly holding an Italian businessman captive for more than two weeks, torturing him in an effort to extract a Bitcoin password.

The businessman, who arrived in New York on May 6, reported that upon visiting the apartment of John Woeltz, his electronic devices and passport were seized, with Woeltz demanding access to his Bitcoin account. When the businessman refused, he was subjected to horrific treatment, including being shocked with wires, threatened with a gun, and dangled over the edge of a five-story building.

Woeltz now faces charges that include assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon. These incidents are shining a spotlight on the dark underbelly of the cryptocurrency world, where the allure of substantial digital wealth can lead to life-threatening situations.

As the landscape of finance evolves with the rise of digital currencies, it becomes imperative for investors to understand the potential dangers they face. Criminals are honing in on cryptocurrency as a lucrative target, and incidents like these serve as a stark reminder of the need for heightened security measures.

While the evolving nature of crime in the cryptocurrency sphere raises questions about personal safety and asset security, it also highlights broader societal challenges in managing risks associated with rapidly advancing technology. As regulators and law enforcement grapple with these issues, investors must remain vigilant and informed about the potential threats lurking in the shadows of the digital economy.