A surprising event occurred at the Sonder Battery Park Hotel in Manhattan’s busy Financial District when a cryptocurrency exchange ended with a bold robbery. The victim lost $20,000 in cash after the late Saturday afternoon incident, prompting police across the city to hunt for those responsible.
Sequence of Events
The trouble started when a 40 year old man looking to invest in cryptocurrency set up a meeting through a friend with an unknown seller. The meeting, planned at the hotel which is recognized for its high security and luxurious setting, gave the buyer unnecessary confidence.
The meeting began smoothly around 5 p.m. in the hotel lobby. Shortly after, the victim was led to room 315 where they expected to complete the transaction. As soon as they entered, however, their circumstances took a drastic turn.
- The person pretending to be a seller then forcefully pushed the victim inside. Surprisingly, one man suddenly attacked him.
- Two more individuals, previously unseen, joined the attacker.
- The group overpowered the man, tying his arms and mouth with tape to stop any resistance or cries for help.
Violence and Theft
The attackers acted quickly. They restrained the victim who couldn’t fight back because he was tied up. Within minutes, they stole his bag with $20,000 meant for a crypto purchase and escaped.
Description of the Suspects
The New York Police Department is actively investigating this incident. They have provided clear surveillance photos of three young suspects,
- Age and Build, Young adults believed to be between 18 to 22 years old, medium build.
- Height, Ranging from 5’5″ to 5’7″.
- All suspects have black hair –
The details about their clothing are helpful to identify them. The first suspect was seen in a blue baseball cap, a black bubble jacket, black pants, and black and white. - The suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt black pants, eyeglasses, and the same sneakers in black and white.
- The third was dressed in a similar fashion with a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, sunglasses also in black, and sneakers that were black and white.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
The NYPD is putting extra effort into catching these criminals. With the suspects still free, officers are asking for help from anyone who might recognize these individuals or has useful information. This event stresses the danger of carrying large amounts of cash for transactions and shows why it’s vital to handle such exchanges in safe places with surveillance.
Police also urge the public to always check that people they interact with are who they say they are.
It is important to verify the trustworthiness of transaction partners in crypto exchanges and to use regulated platforms to help prevent issues.
Crime Stoppers Hotline
If you have any information that could help catch the suspects, please call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1800577 TIPS 8477). The community is essential in catching these criminals and stopping further crimes.
Celine Brooks is a renowned journalist and author specializing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and is very passionate about Crypto. Celine regularly hosts webinars and workshops, sharing her insights and forecasts about the evolving digital currency landscape. She is also an active contributor to several leading financial and tech publications, where she breaks down complex crypto trends into understandable insights for everyday investors.