Béthune prosecutor’s office investigates kidnapping of crypto worker’s family in wrench attack

At around 4 a.m. on September 20, a crypto-industry IT worker and his family were bound by four masked intruders in their home in Vendin-le-Vieil, a small commune in northern France. Over the next two to three hours, the attackers coerced the father into transferring roughly €40,000 in digital assets before fleeing, leaving him and his 12-year-old daughter with minor injuries. The suspects remain at large. An investigation has been opened for unlawful confinement and organized gang extortion, with local police working alongside France’s anti-cybercrime office. France’s wrench attack epidemic The term “wrench attack” refers to a brutally simple concept: skip the hacking, grab a wrench (or zip ties, or a knife), and force someone to hand over their crypto keys in person. More than 70 crypto-related violent incidents have been logged in France during just the first eight months of 2026. That figure represents close to 80% of all documented cases across Europe. Since 2023, the cumulative count has surpassed 135 incidents linked to cryptocurrency holdings. Over 40% of incidents in early 2026 involved targeting family members, not just the crypto holder themselves. Home invasions have be...