A £10,000 reward is being offered after a masked gang forced their way into a home in Solihull, threatened to stab a pregnant woman and forced the husband to transfer cryptocurrency.
Horror new footage shows the moment a hammer-wielding masked gang forced their way into a home in a cryptocurrency robbery - before threatening to kill a pregnant woman.
The young couple, who do not wish to be identified, were attacked in their home in Solihull, West Midlands, at around 5.20pm on December 13 last year. As the couple returned home and opened their front door, three men rushed out of a car parked nearby and forced their way in behind them.
Targeted attack in Solihull
In what police believe to be a targeted attack, the men then demanded the couple transfer thousands of pounds in cryptocurrency, following instructions from a fourth man on a video call.
The man recalled how one of the thieves put a pillow over his wife’s face during the ordeal, telling the BBC: “He’s literally suffocating her on the sofa. I can hear her screaming: ‘I can’t breathe'.”
He added: “I can hear the guy on FaceTime saying: ‘Show me everything on his phone. Show me what apps he’s got.’ He was basically saying: ‘Look, if you don’t send us this money now, we’re going to stab your wife in the stomach and kill your baby. We’re going to kill your wife.'”
Victim’s injuries and threats
Several Rolex watches were also taken from the home of the victim, who said he was an amateur investor who made enough money in cryptocurrency to quit his job in 2023, and trade full time. The woman, in her early 30s, was pregnant with her third child at the time of the attack, and feared the stress may cause her to lose her baby. Thankfully, their baby survived and was born at full term.
“They threatened my wife and my baby,” the man said, adding that he had suffered serious injuries. “People need to understand these risks are real.” Crimestoppers said the offenders left the area in a car believed to be a black BMW X3.
Reward offered for information
All the attackers are thought to be in their twenties. West Midlands Police said the face coverings had made getting exact descriptions of the suspect “difficult”, but one was described as a black man with a small diagonal scar beneath his left eyebrow. The man said he doesn't have much hope of recovering the stolen funds, but wants to see those responsible brought to justice.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Information can be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.
Alan Edwards, Crimestoppers’ West Midlands regional manager, said: “This was a young family, at home, weeks away from welcoming a new baby. We understand that speaking up about something like this feels daunting. That’s precisely why our charity exists.
“We are not the police. We never ask for your name, we can’t trace your IP address, and you will never be asked to give a statement or go to court. In nearly 40 years we have never broken that promise. If this has been sitting with you, please pass it on to us to help keep our communities safe. You can help this family without ever saying who you are.”
