It does seem as though anything of value can be stolen these days, or could end up as a target for thieves. Having said that, majority of the Bitcoin-related crime tend to revolve around the likes of shady internet dealings as well as virtual stashes of the cryptocurrency being stolen from – where else, but online repositories. However, one would surely raise an eyebrow (or two) upon hearing Bitcoin being stolen through the age old modus operandi – that of a stick-up.
It seems that there is an increased rate of Bitcoin muggings over in New York that have not really left all that many leads with the police to follow up. New York City firefighter Dwayne Richards happened to be one of the latest victims, having made his way to Brooklyn in order to meet up with someone who claimed to have wanted to exchange Bitcoins for cash. Along the way, he ended up being stabbed and mugged, although chances are his Bitcoins have left him permanently. Thankfully, Richards is well on the road to recovery.
As with everything else in life, there are always two sides to a coin, and this is one instance where the anonymity of Bitcoin in terms of spending makes it all the more difficult for mugged victims’ Bitcoins to be recovered.