Crypto thief teens trigger helicopter manhunt after bomb threat

Police have arrested two teenagers on suspicion of kidnapping a family of crypto owners and threatening to detonate explosive devices if they did not hand over valuables.

Offices in Île-de-France launched a manhunt for the pair, aged 15 and 17, as well as a 35-year-old man, mobilising two police helicopters and around 100 armed special agents, French media outlet Franceinfo reported.

Police said the trio orchestrated two attacks that took place “one after the other” in two districts of Île-de-France, the large metropolitan area that surrounds Paris.

Crypto kidnapping and robbery cases are ballooning in France, with many of these crimes concentrated in affluent parts of Île-de-France.

Earlier this month, detectives in Versailles began hunting three knife-wielding men who forced a couple to send around $1 million worth of Bitcoin.

‘Carrying explosive devices’

Police say the first incident involving the teenagers took place in Essonne, a southern suburb some 30km from central Paris, at 6 am on March 10.

An unnamed crypto holder told police they thwarted an attack from two individuals who had “hidden their faces with masks.” Both of these individuals were reportedly “carrying small explosive devices,” and were attempting to enter his home.

About 30 minutes later, in the Seine-et-Marne department, some 35 kilometres away, attackers succeeded in breaking into the home of a female crypto holder. Once inside the house, they held the woman and her family captive. The thieves left the property with jewellry, but police did not say if they also stole crypto.

After receiving news of the attempted Essonne attack, police tracked down the suspects’ vehicle and began a pursuit on land and by air.

Six hours later, the officers managed to stop the vehicle. Detectives searched the car, where they found items of jewellry reported missing from the house in Seine-et-Marne.

Public prosecutors have indicted the trio on charges of extortion, organised crime, armed robbery, destruction of property, and kidnapping.

The 17-year-old and the 35-year-old have been detained in pretrial custody. A court placed the younger teen under judicial supervision pending a court hearing.

A spokesperson for the service said prosecution officials have appealed this decision.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at tdalper@dlnews.com.