Theft of a 5 mln Mining Farm in Moscow: Suspect Detained, Equipment Seized

In Moscow’s Bogorodskoe district, police have arrested a 37-year-old man suspected of stealing mining equipment worth 5 mln rubles. According to investigators, the suspect and an accomplice allegedly broke a window, entered an office, and carried away five boxes of ASIC devices weighing 16 kg each. The victimized company’s estimates place total damages above the initially cited 5 mln rubles, accounting for potential equipment damage.

A search of the suspect’s apartment revealed part of the stolen rigs, while the remaining gear was discovered at a relative’s residence. In an attempt to cover their tracks, the suspects moved the equipment to different parts of Moscow. The operation to apprehend them took about a week, involving inspections of warehouses, garages, and rental apartments. Currently, a criminal case has been opened under Article 158 (Part 4) of the Russian Criminal Code, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Investigators are working to identify the second suspect.

Law enforcement representatives note that this is not the first instance of mining hardware theft in the capital over recent months. The growing demand for cryptocurrency mining farms is attracting criminal interest, particularly where physical security and surveillance measures in offices remain insufficient.