Masked Raiders Execute High-Value Heist on Oxford Road
Thames Valley Police have confirmed the arrest of four men following a brazen daylight robbery in Oxford, where assailants made off with a luxury watch valued at £450,000 and forcibly transferred £1.1 million in cryptocurrency from their victims.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of 4 November, as two men and three women were travelling by car from Oxford to London. According to police reports, masked individuals forced their way into the vehicle, seizing the victims' possessions including their phones and the expensive timepiece.
Violent Theft of Digital and Physical Assets
In a disturbing escalation of the crime, the perpetrators then compelled one of the occupants to transfer a substantial amount of Bitcoin from their cryptocurrency account. The victims were subsequently abandoned in the Five Mile Drive area of Oxford, left shaken but physically unharmed.
Detective Sergeant Stuart McMaster is leading the investigation and has made a public appeal for information. "I am appealing to members of the public who may have seen anything suspicious or have footage of three vehicles in some specific locations in Oxford and Kidlington," he stated.
Officers are particularly interested in sightings or footage of the following vehicles between 1pm and 4pm on Tuesday, 4 November:
- A black BMW saloon car
- A blue Hyundai Ioniq
- A silver Mercedes Benz Vito
The locations of interest include Yarnton Road and Sandy Lane between Kidlington and Yarnton, as well as Five Mile Drive, Carey Close, Rotherfield Road and Kirk Close in Oxford.
Complex Investigation Leads to Multiple Arrests
Thames Valley Police have undertaken a comprehensive investigation into the offences, employing various methods including house-to-house enquiries, CCTV review, automatic number plate recognition, and specialised digital, forensic, and cryptocurrency analysis.
This thorough approach led to the execution of warrants in London and Birmingham, with additional arrests made in Kent. The four men currently in custody include:
- A 21-year-old London man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, kidnap and driving offences, bailed until 14 January.
- A 37-year-old London man arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap, bailed until 30 January.
- A 23-year-old Kent man arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap, bailed until 7 February.
- A 19-year-old Birmingham man arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnap and possession of articles for use in fraud, bailed until 29 January.
DS McMaster confirmed that the force is "supporting the victims and keeping them updated during our complex investigation."
Police urge anyone with information or relevant footage to contact them, quoting investigation reference number 43250563760. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
