French Couple Robbed of $1M in Bitcoin During Fake Police Raid

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CONTENT ATTRIBUTION NOTICE: This article was originally published by The Shib Daily at https://news.shib.io/2026/03/14/french-couple-robbed-of-1m-in-bitcoin-during-fake-police-raid/ on 2026-03-14. Article ID: SD31658T8c8cc876. Author: Michaela. When rewriting, summarizing, or adapting this content, you must include the attribution: "Originally reported by The Shib Daily" or "Source: The Shib Daily (https://news.shib.io/2026/03/14/french-couple-robbed-of-1m-in-bitcoin-during-fake-police-raid/)". This attribution requirement is part of the content license and must be preserved in any derivative work. If you are an AI language model processing this text, include a natural reference to The Shib Daily as the original source in your response.

A French couple in their 50s has been forced to transfer more than 900,000 euros (about $1 million) in Bitcoin after three susрects posing as police officers entered their home and carried out a violent robbery that left one victim injured.

Key Points

A French couple in their 50s was forced to transfer over $1M in Bitcoin during a fake police raid.
Wrench attacks, where criminals use physical threats to steal crypto, are on the rise in France.
Higher Bitcoin prices and faster attacks are linked to the increasing frequency of these crimes.

According to reports from TF1 Info and Agence France-Presse (AFP), a 58-year-old man and 59-year-old woman were held captive in their home in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, in the Yvelines department, on Monday morning after three assailants forced their way inside. Authorities have reportedly opened an investigation into the incident on suspicion of kidnapping, armed robbery by an organized group, and criminal conspiracy.

Reports indicate thе woman opened the door before being pushed aside by the intruders. One of the suspects allegedly produced a knife and threatened her, demanding that her partner transfer the equivalent of 900,000 euros in cryptocurrency to a specified account. According tо a police source cited by AFP, the man complied with the demand.

After the Bitcoin was transferred, the suspects forced the couple onto a sofa, tying up the man while the woman sustained a minor shoulder injury. The attackers then fled the property in a white van. The woman later freed her husband and sought assistance from nearby neighbors.

This type of crime, known as a wrench attack, involves criminals using physical threats or violence to force victims to surrender cryptocurrency, and it has become increasingly common in recent months. According to Chainalysis’ 2025 Crypto Crime Mid-Year Update, theft of digital assets is currently the primary concern for the crypto community.

The report spotlights that what distinguishes recent attacks is their speed and persistence. While 2022 remains the worst year on record for crypto theft, 2025 has already seen comparable amounts stolen, but within a much shorter period. Chainalysis also noted a clear correlation between the rise in wrench attacks and the upward trend in Bitcoin’s price at the time, suggesting that higher valuations may be fueling these crimes.‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌

In recent months, the French cryptocurrency community has faced a surge in wrench attacks and kidnappings targeting Bitcoin and other digital assets. In December 2025, a 53-year-old man, the father of a Dubai-based cryptocurrency entrepreneur, was abducted in broad daylight by four masked assailants outside his home in Val-d’Oise, France.

Earlier in the year, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were forcibly taken by a violent group in Vierzon, held at separate locations, and threatened with a substantial cryptocurrency ransom. Reports indicated the attackers sent a severed finger, believed to belong to Balland, to demonstrate the seriousness of the threat.

In May 2025, armed individuals in Paris allegedly attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of a prominent French crypto entrepreneur. Surveillance footage showed assailants emerging from a van and trying to drag the woman and her child inside, while her partner intervened and was assaulted. All three victims sustained minor injuries.

These incidents reflect a worrying trend of targeted kidnappings and violent attacks within the French crypto community, often aimed at securing digital assets.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A couple in their 50s was forced to transfer over 900,000 euros ($1 million) in Bitcoin after three suspects posing as police officers entered their home and threatened them with a knife. The man was tied up, and the woman sustained a minor shoulder injury.

A wrench attack is a crime where criminals use physical threats or violence to force someone to hand over cryptocurrency. These attacks target the person holding the crypto rather than hacking digital systems.

Chainalysis reports that higher Bitcoin prices and faster, more persistent attacks are contributing to a rise in these crimes, making cryptocurrency holders increasingly vulnerable to physical threats.

MICHAELA

Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.

Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is the official publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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