Grant County police investigating theft of cryptocurrency machines valued at $700K

GRANT COUNTY, Ind. (WPTA) - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information after they say Bitcoin machines with an estimated value of $700,000 were stolen earlier this month.

The department says they received a report of a theft from “Your Choice Ever Best” (YCEB) Bitcoin mining operation in Grant County on Oct. 2.

Bitcoin mining machines verify cryptocurrency transactions and secure the blockchain network, police say. YCEB’s website states they have an operating site in Marion, Indiana, after first establishing the company in China.

Investigators say the company reported a hijacked shipment of cargo from a semi that had 1,000 Bitcoin machines inside with an estimated value of $700,000.

Officers say they learned that the stolen shipment was in the Chicago area, and following an undercover operation, they recovered the stolen cargo.

Along with the recovered Bitcoin equipment, police say they also found $75,000 worth of stolen frozen turkeys during the investigation.

Police say an “international criminal participant” was involved in the theft, which remains under investigation at this time. No arrest has been made.

Anyone with information related to the theft is asked to call the Grant County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement agency.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (765) 662-TIPS (8477) or to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Cargo Theft Tipline at 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422).

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