France Witnesses Another "Wrench Attack" Incident as Three Masked Men Steal USB Drive Containing Cryptographic Keys

On January 9, three masked men broke into a home in Manosque, France, this past Monday evening, holding a woman at gunpoint before stealing a USB drive containing her partner’s cryptocurrency data. According to French newspaper *Le Parisien*, the incident occurred on Cherry Orchard Path in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. The suspects threatened the victim with a handgun, slapped her, seized the USB drive, and fled the scene. The victim—reportedly unharmed—freed herself within minutes and alerted authorities. Local police have launched an investigation, assigning the case to the regional criminal investigation unit and national police. Last year, Casa Chief Technology Officer Jameson Lopp documented more than 70 violent cryptocurrency-related attacks worldwide in his public database, making France a European hotspot for such crimes—with over 14 related cases recorded there. Cybercrime consultant David Sehyeon told Decrypt: “France has a relatively high baseline of criminal activity, and the cryptocurrency wealth held by entrepreneurs, traders, and public figures is notable. Coupled with the growth of local digital asset expertise, these factors have created a breeding ground for more speculative, organized cryptocurrency-related crimes.”