Russian couple claim armed robbers stole $100,000 in Bitcoin
A Russian couple has come forward to say they were robbed for US$100,000 (THB3.2 million) in bitcoin on Monday night while on vacation in Phuket.
Maxin Lastouka, 27, and Nikulina Anna, 22, made a complaint with police in Phuket this morning, alleging that a group of foreigners stormed their accommodation in the Rawai area and held them hostage for six hours. It is unclear if the intruders are alleged to have had weapons. During that time, the couple told police that the attackers, also believed to be Russian, forced them to transfer US$100,000 worth of bitcoin to them, reported The Nation.
Lastouka had seen at least one of the attackers in the neighborhood earlier so police believe they may have been following the couple.
The perpetrators also allegedly stole the couple’s three laptops and one iPhone X as well as their passports. When police attempted to track the iPhone using GPS, they found the pricey smartphone had left Phuket for the mainland’s Nakhon Si Thammarat province and has since been taken into Malaysia.
The couple said the attackers claimed they would kill them if they went to the police.
Lastouka said he recognized at least one of the assailants because he had seen him in the area earlier. Phuket police think the attackers could be a Russian criminal gang.
However, there is no way they could have known the pair had a large cryptocurrency investment unless they had been talking about it.
