On September 7, a Bitcoin trader in Herzliya was attacked and robbed in what prosecutors called a violent home invasion, according to the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.
The victim was stabbed and forced to give up access to his digital wallet. According to reports, the thieves made off with approximately $600,000 in property and valuables.
How the attack unfolded
According to the report, the assailants waited on the stairs outside the victim’s apartment and attacked around 8:10 a.m. When the door opened, they forced their way in. The suspect tied up the man and stabbed him twice in the knee.
They forced him to hand over his wallet code by threatening to harm his family. Initially, the group demanded 500 Bitcoins, but the demand was later scaled back as violence was used to extract access.
Under pressure, the victim surrendered credentials that allowed him to transfer approximately $547,260 in Bitcoin and $42,248 in USDT.
The intruders also took a Rolex watch worth about $50,000, a laptop, a Trezor hardware wallet, about 5,300 euros in cash and several thousand Israeli shekels. They sprayed disinfectant inside the apartment before leaving, apparently to erase any traces.
arrest and prosecution
Based on the report, police arrested 46-year-old Murad Mahajina on September 10. He was indicted by the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.
Charges include trespassing, aggravated robbery, extortion by threat, obstructing official business, and intimidation.
Prosecutors said they used call records, voice identification, technical data and surveillance camera footage to link Mahaina to the scene. He is said to have a criminal history with 10 previous convictions for issues including violence, drugs and weapons.
numbers and evidence
The total amount in this case is specific. Approximately $589,508 in virtual currency was reportedly transferred from the victim’s account. This is the sum of Bitcoin and USDT transfers.
Adding the watch and cash, the financial loss approaches the headline figure of $600,000 circulating in early reports.
Cryptographic sources that track physical attacks against holders list this incident as one of the confirmed “wrench”-style attacks. According to some statistics, this is the 52nd such physical attack recorded in 2025.
The phone calls made after the assault allegedly included demands for more change from the victim and threatening to “find” her family if she did not comply with the demands.
Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView
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