Bitcoin
247 stolen Bitcoin mining computers found in Baton Rouge | Crime/Police
Baton Rouge police have found 247 computer devices used to “mine” Bitcoin that were stolen in Kentucky in an abandoned building on Sharp Road, along with four missing UTVs from Washington state.
In total, the stolen property was worth about $850,000, making it one of the largest single burglary recoveries ever made by Baton Rouge burglary officers, the department said in a news release Wednesday.
Bitcoin is one of the world’s most popular cryptocurrencies, digital assets that supporters say are an alternative to government-issued money. Bitcoin “miners” compete to do the complex math and coding needed to create new coins, which requires networks of powerful computers.
The press release says 247 of those computers were stolen in McKee, Kentucky. The victims were able to help detectives track the computers to an abandoned building in the 100 block of Sharp Road.
When police arrived shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday, they found the computers and four Honda UTVs. Mohammed Khaled, 37, was arrested and booked on charges of unlawful possession of stolen property, police said.
According to an affidavit for Khaled’s arrest, detectives arrived at the building next door to a buyer of the devices and were let in by Khaled. There, they found pallets of computer parts that they were able to confirm were stolen.
The investigation is ongoing, the statement said.