[2018-05-14] 5 Arrested in $1 Million Bitcoin Strong Arm Robbery Conspiracy

[BitcoinArsenal]

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested five individuals charged in connection with an alleged home-invasion conspiracy to steal nearly $1 million in Bitcoin. Full article on Bitcoinist

[seoincorporation]

As it is said in the press article, there's no doubt on how important is to keep your keys really hidden.
Regarding the last question of the author, in my case, I always use an old computer to keep my wallet. The computer is most of the time offline and I never use it to search on google, be on the internet and much less, to watch a movie or stuff like that.
Printing your key is also recommended, under my point of view, but you can cut it in several parts and hide each one in different places, having always a key-piece with you.
Anyway, I'm far or having such an amount in BTC, but, even so, I always am careful.
This is the new kind of burglars we're going to hear about.

[JohnGalt]

These guys are from different parts of the U.S. I wonder how they are connected.

I bet they have Bitcointalk accounts. Does anyone here know them?

Trivette Adams, 20, of Pflugerville, Tex., has been charged with residential strong arm robbery and criminal trespass; Robert South, 21, of Norcross has been charged with residential strong arm robbery; Matthew Schwartz, 18, of Hesperia, Calif., has been charged with residential strong arm robbery; Michael McDermott, 18, has been charged with residential strong arm robbery and criminal trespass; Justin Ellison, 20, of Worth, Ill., has been charged with residential strong arm robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony.

[BitHodler]

This is the new kind of burglars we're going to hear about.

No one is safe when ill minded individuals know you hold large amounts of coins or cash. I always cringe when people brag about their holdings and profits, which is mind bogglingly stupid and extremely risky.

The worst part is that some are even so stupid, that they enable location tags on social media. If you want to become a target, then that's definitely the path to follow. Times are changing, and this again proves it.

you can cut it in several parts and hide each one in different places, having always a key-piece with you.

That's what I did with my main cold wallet. Not that I own a lot in terms of fiat value, but in relation to my financial status it represents a significant amount, and for that reason worthy to take these precautions.

[Kemarit]

This is the new kind of burglars we're going to hear about.

No one is safe when ill minded individuals know you hold large amounts of coins or cash. I always cringe when people brag about their holdings and profits, which is mind bogglingly stupid and extremely risky.

The worst part is that some are even so stupid, that they enable location tags on social media. If you want to become a target, then that's definitely the path to follow. Times are changing, and this again proves it.

you can cut it in several parts and hide each one in different places, having always a key-piece with you.

That's what I did with my main cold wallet. Not that I own a lot in terms of fiat value, but in relation to my financial status it represents a significant amount, and for that reason worthy to take these precautions.

Exactly. This is what like 3-4 high profile crypto burglary's that we have seen in the last 3 months and it will rise definitely and I'm sure that there are a lot of targets out there, specially those who are flaunting their bitcoin riches. No need to brag it out or even rub it in to people who doesn't want to invest on crypto. I also have the same method as @seoincorporation, I have my old laptop as my cold wallet, no internet connection whatsoever, and I have backups scatter everywhere.

[dE_logics]

I've never seen a re-enactment of a Bitcoin robbery... that would be a sight to see. And they're millennials... who'da thunk it.

[Lucius]

It is obvious that in this article something is missing, or it's just very bad written. Police have been investigating for months the alleged case of drug trafficking and they at the end arrested four people who were in possession of "zip ties, latex gloves, duct tape, and bandanas". Then they let it go free, but after some time they realized these geniuses have plan to rob 1 million $ in BTC.

They are all charged for "residential strong arm robbery and criminal trespass", but there is no report of arms found or that they are trespass any home. So this case is just conspiracy without any solid evidence, can it hold up in court?

[hatshepsut93]

As it is said in the press article, there's no doubt on how important is to keep your keys really hidden.
Regarding the last question of the author, in my case, I always use an old computer to keep my wallet. The computer is most of the time offline and I never use it to search on google, be on the internet and much less, to watch a movie or stuff like that.
Printing your key is also recommended, under my point of view, but you can cut it in several parts and hide each one in different places, having always a key-piece with you.
Anyway, I'm far or having such an amount in BTC, but, even so, I always am careful.
This is the new kind of burglars we're going to hear about.

All that you've described is absolutely useless against this type of robbery when assailants are not targeting your wallets directly, but rather target you and those around you to force you to give up your private keys. All the encryption and sophisticated protection becomes useless when someone can make you give it all  up under the threat of torture and death. What is needed is keeping low profile with your coins so potential attacks won't consider you as their target in the first place, it's also important to have strong physical security in your house. Gun ownership should also be considered, if it's possible in your country.

[seoincorporation]

All that you've described is absolutely useless against this type of robbery when assailants are not targeting your wallets directly, but rather target you and those around you to force you to give up your private keys. All the encryption and sophisticated protection becomes useless when someone can make you give it all  up under the threat of torture and death. What is needed is keeping low profile with your coins so potential attacks won't consider you as their target in the first place, it's also important to have strong physical security in your house. Gun ownership should also be considered, if it's possible in your country.

Totally agree with you. Since I have never had a big amount of anything I couldn't see myself being a target, but you're totally right.
Anyway, as it has been told ahead, to maintaining a low profile is one of the smartest desitions. Many people seems to like to show-up how much they have, this is not a surprise they become a target if they show-up in anyplace on the internet with all the possessions they have.

In my country is really common to have a weapon (even when it is illegal, but, you know, latin america...). I despise anything related to weapons but katanas so I have my own collection in the house. Anyway in here if they want to steal anything from you the most common "activity" is to kidnap someone you love..., so you're right, any of my measures is strong enough if you become a target.

[Slow death]

In this story there are many gaps, first is how they met, second is how they knew about existence of such bitcoins, third is what evidence the police have that guarantees that they were stealing bitcoin? if they wanted to steal bitcoin, it was not simpler and easier to hijack the owner of bitcoin and he would show them the password, private keys or whatever it was that would enable them to steal those bitcoins. This story is very strange.

[richardsNY]

I wouldn't be surprised to eventually find out that this article is nothing more than an attempt to scare off people. Seriously, I read it 3 times and not even one single time it was even remotely convincing. The only thing this article is good for is that it makes people more aware of the risks they are facing nowadays with the price being this high, so it's not a rubbish article entirely. People just need to understand that while crypto might be a 'fun' thing for them personally, there actually isn't such a thing as fun when it concerns significant amounts. In the same way that you take care of your fiat wealth, you should do it with crypto currencies....

[Coin-Keeper]

Completely independent of whether this article is true or false;  one feature that I like about my Trezors is that I enable hidden wallet protections.  I do it by keeping two decoys on each device.  One is an obvious decoy with a super small fraction of a coin.  Then the backup decoy is around 1/2 a BTC to seem more convincing.  Nothing anywhere will reveal the existence of any wallet outside of my Trezors (except off premises where info from two separate locations would be needed to construct the wallet from SEED and passphrases).  Almost nobody knows I own a single bitcoin, and the ones that have some idea have no clue as to how many.

[darkangel11]

It is obvious that in this article something is missing, or it's just very bad written. Police have been investigating for months the alleged case of drug trafficking and they at the end arrested four people who were in possession of "zip ties, latex gloves, duct tape, and bandanas". Then they let it go free, but after some time they realized these geniuses have plan to rob 1 million $ in BTC.

They are all charged for "residential strong arm robbery and criminal trespass", but there is no report of arms found or that they are trespass any home. So this case is just conspiracy without any solid evidence, can it hold up in court?

My thoughts exactly.

They were arrested for an attempted robbery, but they haven't been caught on the premises and only had the tools with them. In many countries this wouldn't be enough to put them in jail and if they tried any lawyer would manage to get the charges dropped. They could say that they were into rough gay bondage sex

Imagine going to a shooting range with friends and having a bunch of guns and ammo in the trunk. Earlier that day you were also at work doing renovations and have your drills and grinders in there with you. Routine stop, they find the stuff and charge you with attempted robbery because you are armed, with tools that could be used to break in, near someone's home. Ridiculous!

[Siren]

It is obvious that in this article something is missing, or it's just very bad written. Police have been investigating for months the alleged case of drug trafficking and they at the end arrested four people who were in possession of "zip ties, latex gloves, duct tape, and bandanas". Then they let it go free, but after some time they realized these geniuses have plan to rob 1 million $ in BTC.

They are all charged for "residential strong arm robbery and criminal trespass", but there is no report of arms found or that they are trespass any home. So this case is just conspiracy without any solid evidence, can it hold up in court?

Does this articles are made just to publicize crypto specially bitcoin?as we know bad publicity or good publicity is still publicity,why need to released an articles thats not complete when they know that many cryptonians will buy this published articles i smell something not in proper place here.

And if youre right mate,there's no "strong arm robbery "here right?

[vit05]

I believe the police had strong indications about the possibility of some crime and probably know that this group is part of some larger theft planning. Arresting the group, it is likely that quickly some of them decide to start talking. By involving narcotics, and for everything that has happened since the end of Dreads, I imagine it has something to do with Deep Web market.

[Lucius]

I believe the police had strong indications about the possibility of some crime and probably know that this group is part of some larger theft planning. Arresting the group, it is likely that quickly some of them decide to start talking. By involving narcotics, and for everything that has happened since the end of Dreads, I imagine it has something to do with Deep Web market.

And I thought of this possibility, since this group is investigated initially because of the possible abuse of narcotics some of them or all are just drug addicts. When such a persons gets into custody they will do everything to get out as soon as possible, and they have start sung like a birds.

My thoughts exactly.

They were arrested for an attempted robbery, but they haven't been caught on the premises and only had the tools with them. In many countries this wouldn't be enough to put them in jail and if they tried any lawyer would manage to get the charges dropped. They could say that they were into rough gay bondage sex

Imagine going to a shooting range with friends and having a bunch of guns and ammo in the trunk. Earlier that day you were also at work doing renovations and have your drills and grinders in there with you. Routine stop, they find the stuff and charge you with attempted robbery because you are armed, with tools that could be used to break in, near someone's home. Ridiculous!

In this case situation was a bit different, but in general it would be really crazy accusing people on the basis of something that was find in the trunk of a car - unless you have a full plan of robbery with all the tools

Does this articles are made just to publicize crypto specially bitcoin?as we know bad publicity or good publicity is still publicity,why need to released an articles thats not complete when they know that many cryptonians will buy this published articles i smell something not in proper place here.

And if youre right mate,there's no "strong arm robbery "here right?

There is no crime committed in this case, only conspiracy to do that, but this is also a crime. Such articles just warn us that some bad people are switching from usual forms of theft to let's say a little more advanced methods. Also it is always good public promotion for police, and to make the community feel safer.