A 41‑year‑old man in Kent was assaulted with hammers and forced to hand over cryptocurrency worth hundreds of thousands of pounds after intruders threatened the life of his unborn child.

Police say the attackers broke into the victim’s home on Tuesday night, tied up his wife, who was eight months pregnant, and repeatedly struck the man with a hammer until he complied. The crime, described by investigators as a "horrific" robbery, resulted in the victim transferring the digital assets to an address supplied by the assailants.

"They threatened to kill the baby if I didn’t give them the money," the victim told officers, according to the BBC.

Detectives recovered a small amount of cash left at the scene but the majority of the crypto was moved to an overseas wallet, making recovery difficult. The perpetrators fled before police arrived, and no arrests have been made.

Violence meets digital crime

While theft of cryptocurrency is not new, the level of physical violence reported in this case is unusual. Experts say most crypto scams rely on phishing or online deception, not direct physical intimidation.

"This is a stark reminder that virtual assets can become a motive for very real, violent crime," said a cyber‑crime specialist at the National Crime Agency.

Broader concerns for public safety

The incident arrives amid growing police warnings about the rise in crypto‑related offences. A recent NCA report noted a 30 % increase in ransomware and extortion cases linked to digital currencies over the past year.

Law‑enforcement agencies are urging owners of high‑value crypto holdings to consider stronger security measures, including cold storage and limiting exposure of wallet addresses.

Impact on victims and community

The victim’s wife, who survived the ordeal, remains in hospital under observation. Neighbours described the scene as "nightmarish" and said the family had been known in the community for years.

Local authorities have announced a review of home‑security advice for residents in areas with high concentrations of tech‑savvy individuals, hoping to deter similar attacks.

Investigators continue to trace the cryptocurrency transaction, working with international partners to locate the funds. The case underscores the tangible risks that can arise from the anonymity and speed of digital money.

Police say they will update the public as the investigation progresses.