Thames Valley Police have arrested a Birmingham man as part of their investigation into a violent robbery that saw victims lose over £1.5 million in cryptocurrency and luxury goods.
The orchestrated vehicle heist
On the afternoon of November 4, five victims - two men and three women - were targeted while driving from Oxford to London. Their vehicle was stationary in Oxford when multiple masked individuals forced their way inside.
The assailants proceeded to steal a luxury watch valued at approximately $590,000 (just under £450,000) along with mobile phones from the terrified occupants.
In a sophisticated escalation of the crime, the thieves then forced one victim to transfer $1.5 million (£1.1 million) worth of cryptocurrency from their digital wallet.
Police investigation and public appeal
After approximately 30 minutes, the robbers abandoned the vehicle in the Five Mile Drive area of Oxford, allowing the victims to contact authorities.
Detective Sergeant Stuart McMaster of Thames Valley Police 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.
Investigators are particularly interested in sightings of:
- A black BMW saloon car
- A blue Hyundai Ioniq
- A silver Mercedes Benz Vito
These vehicles were seen in the Yarnton Road and Sandy Lane area between Kidlington and Yarnton, as well as Five Mile Drive, Carey Close, Rotherfield Road and Kirk Close in Oxford between 1pm and 4pm on Tuesday, November 4.
Arrests and ongoing investigation
Thames Valley Police have conducted a comprehensive investigation involving multiple approaches:
- House-to-house enquiries
- CCTV and ANPR review
- Digital and forensic analysis
- Cryptocurrency and financial tracking
The police force executed warrants in London and Birmingham while making arrests in Kent. Four men have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Those arrested include:
- A 21-year-old London man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, kidnap and driving offences - released on police bail until January 14, 2026
- A 37-year-old London man arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap - released on police bail until January 30, 2026
- A 23-year-old Kent man arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap - released on police bail until February 7, 2026
- A 19-year-old Birmingham man arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnap and possession of articles for use in fraud - released on police bail until January 29, 2026
Detective Sergeant McMaster confirmed that "We are supporting the victims and keeping them updated during our complex investigation."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Thames Valley Police via their police station, the dedicated investigation webpage, or by calling 101 quoting reference number 43250563760. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers via their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
