In a bizarre, bittersweet twist of fate, a Scottish robbery has just made history as the first in the country to involve stolen Bitcoin—and yes, it all went down with a machete and a Toblerone. While some might think these two weapons aren’t typically associated with heists, they played a pivotal role in one of the wildest robberies in Scotland’s history.
Back in March 2020, a home in Blantyre, a town just southeast of Glasgow, became the scene of a terrifying home invasion. Three men—armed with a machete and a Toblerone chocolate bar—broke into a house and forced the victim to transfer Bitcoin from his digital wallet. Yes, you read that correctly: a Toblerone, not a gun or a traditional weapon, was involved in this high-tech crime.
The man was reportedly woken up by one of the robbers standing over him, machete in hand, and forced to hand over his Bitcoin. Things took a darker turn when one of the attackers used the chocolate bar to beat a woman in the house, even making a “throat-slitting gesture” with the bloodied candy. It was the kind of surreal, chilling incident that could only happen in an age where traditional robberies meet high-tech crime.
Scotland Makes Crypto History with Bitcoin Seizure
Fast forward to September 2024, and the robbery has left its mark on Scotland’s criminal history. The Scottish authorities have now seized 23.5 Bitcoin—worth around £109,600 ($144,000 USD) at the time of the seizure—and converted it into cash, marking the first instance in the country of crypto tracing in a robbery case.
Detective Inspector Craig Potter from Police Scotland’s Cyber Investigations unit explained that this case set a precedent, saying, “It was the first robbery in Scotland to involve tracing stolen cryptocurrency.” In a country where traditional crime fighting has long been the norm, this marks a shift towards dealing with increasingly digital forms of theft.
From Machetes to Bitcoin: The Legal Drama Unfolds
The court hearings, which began in 2023, revealed some jaw-dropping details about how the robbery unfolded. According to the court’s findings, one of the perpetrators, John Ross Rennie, was the “technical brains” behind the crypto theft. While he denied taking part in the actual robbery, claiming he was coerced by a “scary” relative, the court found that his role in transferring the stolen Bitcoin was pivotal.
The Bitcoin was originally taken when the cryptocurrency was valued at around $5,400 per coin. Now, Bitcoin’s value has surged (and fluctuated), but the total sum seized at the time was 23.5 BTC, which converted to roughly $144,017 (around £109,600). The value of the crypto was far less back in 2020 when the crime occurred, but still, that’s a chunk of change. Rennie was convicted in November 2023 for possessing the stolen Bitcoin, and his conviction came with 150 hours of unpaid community service and a six-month supervision order.
The Unlikely Weapon: Toblerone as a Tool for Crime
As for the weapon of choice—the Toblerone? Well, it turned out to be just as unusual as it sounds. The chocolate bar was used to violently attack a woman in the house and intimidate the victim into transferring the Bitcoin. This bizarre weapon choice left lawyers scratching their heads, with one describing the case as “unusual throughout.”
Marco Guarino, the lawyer for one of the convicts, called it a “weird and strange case,” and it’s not hard to see why. A machete is terrifying enough, but throwing in a candy bar that’s better known for being a gift than a weapon? That just adds an extra layer of strangeness to an already outlandish crime.
The New Age of Crime: Crypto, Robberies, and Cyber Investigations
For the Scottish authorities, this case signals a new chapter in crime fighting. Gone are the days when thieves would simply grab cash or valuables; now, criminals are targeting digital assets like Bitcoin, and law enforcement is stepping up its game to keep up with the evolving crime scene. The successful seizure and conversion of stolen Bitcoin is a win for cyber investigators, and it shows that even the most advanced digital crimes can be traced and undone—thanks to modern tech.
This robbery was a reminder that cryptocurrency has entered the realm of traditional crime. As digital currencies become more mainstream, it’s only a matter of time before we see more crimes of this nature. And in this case, Scotland’s law enforcement might just be ahead of the curve when it comes to dealing with these high-tech crimes.
The Final Word: A Sweet and Bloody Heist
At the end of the day, the robbery involving a Toblerone and a machete ended with some heavy fines, community service, and a historic seizure of stolen Bitcoin. While the robbers may have thought they were pulling off a clean heist, technology and cybercrime investigations ultimately made sure that the stolen assets couldn’t escape justice.
Will this be the last time we see a crypto robbery involving such strange weapons? Probably not. But it’s clear that as the crypto revolution continues, law enforcement is adapting to keep the digital world as secure as the physical one. And if you’re going to rob a place, maybe leave the chocolate bars at home and stick to the traditional tools of the trade.
