Teens Detained Over Failed $66 Million Crypto Theft
Two California high school students were arrested after a failed attempt to steal $66 million in crypto in Arizona.
Two high school students from California were detained following an attempted home invasion in Scottsdale, Arizona. At first, the motive behind the attack was unclear. Only after questioning the teenagers did investigators determine that the target was cryptocurrency worth approximately $66 million.
The incident took place on Saturday, January 31, at around 10:45 a.m. Police received an emergency call reporting screams coming from a residence. Upon arrival, officers heard calls for help and witnessed a struggle between an adult man and one of the attackers. When the suspects realized police were entering the house through the front, they fled through the back exit.
The teenagers attempted to escape in a blue Subaru but were apprehended after a chase that ended on a dead-end street. One suspect was 17 years old and came from San Luis Obispo, while the other was 16 and from Morro Bay. Both were students at high schools in California.
The suspects claimed they did not know each other prior to the incident. According to their statements, they were recruited by unknown individuals who contacted them via the encrypted messaging app Signal. They allegedly received $1,000 to purchase disguises and restraint tools, along with a specific address in the Sweetwater Ranch neighborhood—approximately 600 miles from their hometowns. Their task was to force the residents to hand over their digital assets.
At the scene, police found clothing resembling UPS delivery uniforms, zip ties, duct tape, and a firearm produced using a 3D printer. Earlier, the mother of one of the teens had contacted police in California after reading messages on her son’s phone. However, that information reached Arizona authorities only after the attempted robbery had already occurred.
The boys were taken to a juvenile detention center in Maricopa County. They face charges including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and second-degree burglary. Both were released on $50,000 bail and placed under electronic monitoring. Police have not disclosed whether any residents were injured. It is known that the homeowners’ adult son hid during the incident and managed to call for help.
At this stage of the investigation, authorities have not identified who orchestrated the attack. The suspects maintain that they communicated solely with anonymous individuals online and are unaware of the organizers’ identities. Investigators do not rule out the possibility that the mastermind was someone familiar with the victims and their cryptocurrency holdings. The case remains ongoing, and police continue to examine potential links to third parties.
