Police in Oxford are investigating a high-value roadside robbery where masked assailants ambushed a car, stealing a luxury watch and forcing a victim to transfer over $1.3 million in cryptocurrency. The incident occurred on the afternoon of November 4, when two men and three women were traveling from Oxford toward London.

According to investigators, the attackers forced their way into the victims’ vehicle, confiscated their phones, and took a watch valued at approximately $562,500. One of the victims was then compelled to transfer $1.375 million worth of crypto from their account. After the theft, the group was abandoned in the Five Mile Drive area of Oxford as the robbers fled the scene.

Investigation and Arrests

Thames Valley Police have launched an extensive investigation and appealed to the public for information. Detective Sergeant Stuart McMaster urged residents and drivers to check dashcam or CCTV footage for three vehicles linked to the crime: a black BMW saloon, a blue Hyundai Ioniq, and a silver Mercedes-Benz Vito. Authorities are particularly interested in footage from the Yarnton Road, Sandy Lane, and Five Mile Drive areas between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the day of the attack.

The investigation involves house-to-house inquiries, reviews of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data, digital forensics, and cryptocurrency tracing. Officers have executed warrants in London and Birmingham, leading to multiple arrests in Kent.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap: a 21-year-old and a 37-year-old from London, a 23-year-old from Kent, and a 19-year-old from Birmingham. All four have since been released on bail, with their return dates scheduled for early 2026.

Physical Attacks on Crypto Holders on the Rise

This robbery highlights a troubling and rapidly growing trend of physical violence targeting cryptocurrency owners. According to data tracked by CASA co-founder Jameson Lopp, there has been a 169% increase in violent incidents reported globally in just over six months, with 35 new attacks documented since late February.

So far in 2025, there have been 48 reported attacks, a 33% increase over the total for all of 2024. France has been a particular hotspot, accounting for 14 of this year’s incidents. In one recent case in Cambridge, Canada, a young man was abducted at gunpoint and forced to transfer his digital assets to his attacker’s wallet.