Robbers steal more than HK$3 million in bitcoin from trader, escape after kicking him out of car on Hong Kong hillside
- Victim was paid in cash after bitcoin transaction, then driven to Chai Wan where money was promptly taken back
- Police looking for six suspects of non-Chinese ethnicity, aged around 30
A gang of robbers stole bitcoin valued at more than HK$3 million from a trader on Monday, luring him to meet for the transaction and then kicking him out of the car on a Hong Kong hillside.
The robbers fled with HK$3 million (US$387,000) in cash that they had pretended to pay their victim, but took back later when 15 bitcoin worth about HK$235,000 each were transferred.
The incident, which has sparked a citywide manhunt, took place after two non-Chinese men arrived in a white car and picked up the victim – a 37-year-old man – outside a hotel in North Point just before 8pm.
According to police, the man said he agreed to an in-person meeting to sell the men 15 bitcoin after first talking to them online.
“Initial investigation showed he was paid HK$3 million in cash in the car after transferring 15 bitcoin to the two buyers,” a police source said. “The robbers then drove off [with him inside the car] as he was counting the money.”
After travelling for more than 6km, the car pulled over on a hillside on Tai Tam Road in Chai Wan, where a black-coloured vehicle soon arrived and three men emerged.
