Australian police find ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of stolen Bitcoin ATMs, Pokemon cards

Australian police have uncovered an “Aladdin’s cave” of stolen items after busting a local crime syndicate targeting crypto ATMs and collector card stores across Melbourne. 

Local police alleged a “significant network of offenders” were involved in a series of commercial burglaries, including stealing six cryptocurrency ATMs and tens of thousands of dollars worth of collector cards since mid-January, according to a Feb. 17 statement from Victoria Police.

The authorities said that the investigation led to them uncovering a stockpile of stolen items, including firearms, 100 car keys, a pill press machine and power tools.

The cards included a range of Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering and other collectibles.

Detectives believe the group was using stolen cars to commit their crimes.

Four men were arrested in connection with the crime spree. One has been charged with a raft of offenses, including 14 counts of burglary of commercial cryptocurrency ATMs and commercial games stores, as well as handling stolen goods and being a prohibited person possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms. He is due in court on May 2.

Another was charged with five commercial burglaries, three counts of theft of motor vehicle, unlicenced driving and possessing a prohibited weapon and will appear in court on Feb. 21. 

Two other men were released pending further investigation, according to Australian police.

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Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson, from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, said they had arrested the main offenders and believed the gang might be connected to a larger syndicate.

“Police have also identified the lesser offenders supplying stolen goods and, more importantly, the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Syndicates tasking the apprehended offenders,” he said.

Australia growing as a crypto ATM hub

Coin ATM Radar data shows there are 313 Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs and tellers in the state where the thieves were operating. 

Australia was once a slow market for crypto ATMs, but adoption increased exponentially near the end of 2022 after private firms began piling into the market.

It’s now the third-largest hub for Bitcoin and crypto ATMs. Coin ATM Radar data shows over 1,462 ATMs operating in the country, up from 67 in August 2022. 

Leading crypto ATM providers in Australia include Coinflip, which has 679 ATMs in its stable; Localcoin, with 543; and Cryptolink, with 98.

However, the US still has by far the most Bitcoin ATMs, with 29,740 machines representing 80% of the global market. Canada ranks second, at 8.3% of the market, with 3,074 crypto ATMs.

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