French Family Attacked Over Crypto Holdings in Three-Hour Home Invasion

A family in northern France was subjected to a terrifying home invasion by four masked men who stole approximately €40,000 in cryptocurrency from the father's holdings. The attack occurred on September 20 at around 4 a.m. in Vendin-le-Vieil, where the attackers forced their way into the house and restrained the couple and their two children with tape.

The father was separated from his partner and children, threatened, and assaulted while the group tried to obtain access credentials for his crypto holdings. The incident lasted nearly three hours before the attackers fled, leaving the family behind. Emergency services reached the family at around 7 a.m. after the father freed himself and raised the alarm.

The couple's 12-year-old daughter suffered a minor head injury during the attack, while the father was struck several times as the assailants demanded his authentication codes. Béthune public prosecutor Étienne Thieffry confirmed that an investigation has been opened for unlawful confinement and organized extortion, offenses carrying potential prison terms of up to 20 years.