From his cell, he organizes a $2.7 million crypto theft

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https://cryptoast.fr/vol-crypto-depuis-prison-ecosse-2-7-millions-dollars/

Robert Barr, a 29-year-old Scot, was sentenced yesterday to 8 years in prison for organizing, from his cell in Edinburgh, an attempted theft of up to $2.7 million in cryptocurrencies. His accomplices, Sean Favier, 26, and Iain Doyle, 37, received 4 and 5 years. All three had pleaded guilty to participating in organized crime.

The criminal was then serving a 21-month sentence for fraud related to cryptocurrencies. For several months, he had prepared the operation: identification of the victims, location of the home and discussions on the best time to intervene.

On April 17, 2024, around 11:30 p.m., the two perpetrators showed up at the targeted entrepreneur's house, their faces hidden. They had to force him to install AnyDesk on his computer. This remote control software would have allowed the inmate to transfer cryptocurrencies to his own accounts.

But the couple had spotted them using their doorbell camera and refused to open. After an exchange over the intercom, the two men left. Analysis of Robert Barr's phone made it possible to reconstruct the preparations, including messages contemplating threats or violence.

This scenario concerns wrench attacks, these attacks intended to obtain cryptocurrencies through violence or threats. Home invasions, kidnappings, hostage-taking: criminals seek to force victims to unlock their wallet or make a transfer.

What should I do if I am the victim of a crypto-related attack?

According to Chainalysis, these attacks stole more than $30 million in the first half of the current year. If this pace continues, the annual toll could exceed the record of 58 million recorded in 2025. These estimates only concern known cases and successful thefts.

In France too, detainees are suspected of leading similar operations. In January 2025, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, and his partner were kidnapped in the Cher. The entrepreneur had suffered the amputation of a finger, while the kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrencies.

A 26-year-old man, already detained in Angers for another kidnapping case, is said to have organized the operation from his cell. Indicted in April 2025, he disputes his role as sponsor.

Another file concerns two attacks committed on March 10: an attempted intrusion using explosives in Essonne and kidnapping followed by extortion with a weapon in Seine-et-Marne. The victims were allegedly targeted for their alleged possession of cryptocurrencies.

Machine-translated from French