A family in Solihull, West Midlands, was subjected to a violent home invasion in which assailants threatened the life of the wife, who is pregnant with their third child, and demanded a transfer of cryptocurrency. The incident occurred on December 13 of last year at approximately 5:20 p.m. when three masked men forced their way into the couple’s residence shortly after they arrived home.

According to the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, the attackers were armed with a hammer and subjected him to a 45-minute ordeal during which he was assaulted. One of the intruders placed a pillow over his wife’s face while threatening her life and that of her unborn baby. The victim recounted hearing his wife scream for air as she was suffocated on the sofa.

The robbers communicated with a fourth individual via a video call, who instructed them to gain access to the victim’s phone and demanded the transfer of several hundred thousand pounds in cryptocurrency. The caller reportedly said: “Show me everything on his phone. Show me what apps he’s got,” further threatening to kill the wife and baby if the money was not handed over immediately. In addition to the cryptocurrency, the attackers also stole several Rolex watches.

The victim, who described himself as an amateur cryptocurrency investor, said the assault left him with significant injuries. He noted that his gains from investing were substantial enough that he had left his job in 2023 to focus on trading full time. “They threatened my wife and my baby,” he said. “People need to understand these risks are real.”

Police believe the attack may have been targeted. The offenders fled the scene in a vehicle believed to be a black BMW X3. Witness descriptions indicate the suspects were in their twenties, including one described as a Black man with a small diagonal scar beneath his left eyebrow.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Alan Edwards of Crimestoppers emphasized the importance of community assistance, encouraging anyone with information to come forward anonymously. He assured that the charity does not require personal details or impose any obligation to give statements or appear in court, underscoring the confidentiality and safety of the reporting process.

“This was a young family, at home, weeks away from welcoming a new baby,” Edwards said. “If this has been sitting with you, please pass it on to us to help keep our communities safe.”