Walnut Creek California Bitcoin ATM Robbery: Difference between revisions

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{{Imported Case Study|source=https://www.quadrigainitiative.com/casestudy/walnutcreekcaliforniabitcoinatmrobbery.php}}
{{Imported Case Study|source=https://www.quadrigainitiative.com/casestudy/walnutcreekcaliforniabitcoinatmrobbery.php}}[[File:Walnutcreekatm.jpg|thumb|Walnut Creek Bitcoin ATM]]A bitcoin ATM robbery in Walnut Creek, California, United States was shared on Reddit by California resident and Reddit user "Calsmokes".
{{Unattributed Sources}}[[File:Walnutcreekatm.jpg|thumb|Walnut Creek Bitcoin ATM]]Limited details are available about this bitcoin ATM robbery which was shared on Reddit by California resident and Reddit user "Calsmokes".


This exchange or platform is based in United States, or the incident targeted people primarily in United States.<ref name="reddit-10636" /><ref name="0xupuptwitter-10637" /><ref name="eldonsartetwitter-10638" /><ref name="storew1retwitter-10639" /><ref name="btcfantwitter-10640" /><ref name="asiabitcointwitter-10641" /><ref name="bitcoinedutwitter-10642" /><ref name="virtualc4ttwitter-10643" />
== About Walnut Creek ==
Walnut Creek is a city located in [[wikipedia:Contra_Costa_County,_California|Contra Costa County, California]], in the [[wikipedia:East_Bay|East Bay]] region of the [[wikipedia:San_Francisco_Bay_Area|San Francisco Bay Area]], about 16 miles (26 kilometers) east of the city of [[wikipedia:Oakland,_California|Oakland]]. The total population was only 70,127 as of the 2020 census, Walnut Creek serves as a vibrant hub for its neighboring cities because of its location at the junction of the highways from [[wikipedia:Sacramento,_California|Sacramento]] and [[wikipedia:San_Jose,_California|San Jose]] ([[wikipedia:Interstate_680_(California)|I-680]]) and San Francisco/Oakland ([[wikipedia:California_State_Route_24|SR-24]]), and its accessibility by [[wikipedia:Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit|BART]]<ref>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/walnutcreekcitycalifornia Walnut Creek, California Quickfacts] (May 23, 2021)</ref>. Its active downtown neighborhood features hundred-year-old buildings and extensive high-end [[wikipedia:Retail|retail]] establishments. The city shares its borders with [[wikipedia:Clayton,_California|Clayton]], [[wikipedia:Lafayette,_California|Lafayette]], [[wikipedia:Alamo,_California|Alamo]], [[wikipedia:Pleasant_Hill,_California|Pleasant Hill]], and [[wikipedia:Concord,_California|Concord]]<ref>[[wikipedia:Walnut_Creek,_California|Walnut Creek, California - Wikipedia]] (Apr 4, 2023)</ref>.


== About None ==
== About Calsmokes ==
"Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California."
Calsmokes is a regular bitcoin buyer<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/zxfzxa/comment/j23k6ei/ Calsmokes - "I buy every day no matter what so…." - Reddit] (Apr 4, 2023)</ref> who spends a significant amount of time in California<ref name="reddit-10636" /><ref name=":0">[https://www.reddit.com/r/oakland/comments/11b1iyr/middle_of_the_day_middle_of_downtown_in_front_of/ Middle of the day. Middle of downtown. In front of Schwabb building. Nothing in the car. People suck. :( - Reddit] (Apr 4, 2023)</ref>.


"In Walnut Creek, Ca., a Bitcoin ATM was broken into by robbers who apparently have no clue how Bitcoin works."
TBD more details on Calsmokes. https://old.reddit.com/user/Calsmokes
 
This exchange or platform is based in United States, or the incident targeted people primarily in United States.
 
The background of the exchange platform, service, or individuals involved, as it would have been seen or understood at the time of the events.
 
Include:
 
* Known history of when and how the service was started.
* What problems does the company or service claim to solve?
* What marketing materials were used by the firm or business?
* Audits performed, and excerpts that may have been included.
* Business registration documents shown (fake or legitimate).
* How were people recruited to participate?
* Public warnings and announcements prior to the event.
 
Don't Include:
* Any wording which directly states or implies that the business is/was illegitimate, or that a vulnerability existed.
* Anything that wasn't reasonably knowable at the time of the event.
There could be more than one section here. If the same platform is involved with multiple incidents, then it can be linked to a main article page.


== The Reality ==
== The Reality ==
This sections is included if a case involved deception or information that was unknown at the time. Examples include:
Walnut Creek has a high crime rate, 32.96 per 1,000 residents, which is much higher than the California average of 23.47 per 1,000 residents, and the United States national average of 19 per 1,000 residents<ref name=":1">[https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/walnut-creek/crime Walnut Creek, CA Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout] (Apr 4, 2023)</ref>. More than 88% of communities within California have a lower crime rate than Walnut Creek<ref name=":1" />. The majority of the crime in Walnut Creek is property crime, with violent crime making up a much smaller proportion<ref name=":1" />.
 
* When the service was actually started (if different than the "official story").
* Who actually ran a service and their own personal history.
* How the service was structured behind the scenes. (For example, there was no "trading bot".)
* Details of what audits reported and how vulnerabilities were missed during auditing.


== What Happened ==
== What Happened ==
The specific events of the loss and how it came about. What actually happened to cause the loss and some of the events leading up to it.
At some point on or about September 13th, 2022, a bitcoin ATM was robbed. This was shared by Reddit user Calsmokes.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key Event Timeline - Walnut Creek California Bitcoin ATM Robbery
|+Key Event Timeline - Walnut Creek California Bitcoin ATM Robbery
Line 46: Line 22:
|September 13th, 2022 11:24:55 AM MDT
|September 13th, 2022 11:24:55 AM MDT
|Reddit Post
|Reddit Post
|Robbery image is posted to Reddit.
|An image of a broken ATM is posted to Reddit along with the caption "Crazy.... Just got robbed"<ref name="reddit-10636" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 11:58:00 AM MDT
|Twitter Bot Repost
|The Reddit post is shared by Twitter bot storew1re on Twitter<ref name="storew1retwitter-10639" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 12:47:00 PM MDT
|Bitcoin EDU Retweeted
|The Twitter account Bitcoin Edu tweeted the same image and thread title<ref name="bitcoinedutwitter-10642" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 1:05:00 PM MDT
|Bitcoin Fan Tweet
|The btc_fan account shares the same thread on Twitter<ref name="btcfantwitter-10640" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 1:22:00 PM MDT
|Asia Bitcoin Tweet
|The asia_bitcoin account shares a tweet with the thread included<ref name="asiabitcointwitter-10641" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 1:49:00 PM MDT
|Shared on Twitter
|The Reddit post is shared on Twitter by user 0xupup<ref name="0xupuptwitter-10637" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 2:31:00 PM MDT
|Shared By Eldon Sarte
|The Reddit post image is shared on Twitter by user Eldon Sarte<ref name="eldonsartetwitter-10638" />.
|-
|September 13th, 2022 2:39:00 PM MDT
|Shared By VirtualC4T
|The same image is shared by Twitter user VirtualC4t<ref name="virtualc4ttwitter-10643" />.
|-
|February 24th, 2023 1:43:07 PM MST
|Smashed Car Window
|Calsmokes posts another image on Reddit, of a smashed car window in nearby Oakland, California<ref name=":0" />.
|}
|}
== Technical Details ==
The exact details of the theft are unclear. From the photo, it appears that the thief managed to break the locking mechanisms on the bitcoin ATM and proceeded to remove the cash contents of the machine. It is unclear if any alarms were triggered by the incident at the time, and if the thief made any additional attempts at further robbery.


== Total Amount Lost ==
== Total Amount Lost ==
The total amount lost is unknown.
Given the nature of bitcoin, it is likely that all losses were in cash. It seems unlikely from the state of the machine that the thief would have been able to feed in any of their stolen money to "purchase" further bitcoin.


How much was lost and how was it calculated? If there are conflicting reports, which are accurate and where does the discrepancy lie?
The total amount lost was never reported and is thus unknown.


== Immediate Reactions ==
== Immediate Reactions ==
How did the various parties involved (firm, platform, management, and/or affected individual(s)) deal with the events? Were services shut down? Were announcements made? Were groups formed?
The incident was widely shared on both Reddit and Twitter, but achieved no mainstream media coverage.
 
=== Reactions On Reddit ===
The OP was widely criticized for their apparent lack of understanding of the basics of ATMs<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xddild/comment/ioacvdv/ petertherussian - "more likely OP doesn’t understand how a Bitcoin ATM works" - Reddit] (Jun 5, 2023)</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xddild/comment/ioa8js8/ maniacmuns - "It takes cash..." - Reddit] (Jun 5, 2023)</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xddild/comment/ioaaz9o/ misunderstoodR - "You put cash inside lmao" - Reddit] (Jun 5, 2023)</ref>.<blockquote>more likely OP doesn’t understand how a Bitcoin ATM works</blockquote>
 
=== Reposting On Twitter ===
The Reddit thread and related image was widely circulated on Twitter<ref name="bitcoinedutwitter-10642" /><ref name="btcfantwitter-10640" /><ref name="asiabitcointwitter-10641" /><ref name="0xupuptwitter-10637" /><ref name="eldonsartetwitter-10638" /><ref name="virtualc4ttwitter-10643" />.


== Ultimate Outcome ==
== Ultimate Outcome ==
What was the end result? Was any investigation done? Were any individuals prosecuted? Was there a lawsuit? Was any tracing done?
No further information is known about what happened in this case.


== Total Amount Recovered ==
== Total Amount Recovered ==
There do not appear to have been any funds recovered in this case.
It is unclear whether there have been any funds recovered in this case.
 
What funds were recovered? What funds were reimbursed for those affected users?


== Ongoing Developments ==
== Ongoing Developments ==
What parts of this case are still remaining to be concluded?
It is unclear if there is a remaining investigation into the theft.
== Individual Prevention Policies ==
== Individual Prevention Policies ==
{{Prevention:Individuals:Placeholder}}
{{Prevention:Individual:No Individual Funds Lost}}


{{Prevention:Individuals:End}}
{{Prevention:Individuals:End}}


== Platform Prevention Policies ==
== Platform Prevention Policies ==
{{Prevention:Platforms:Placeholder}}
{{Prevention:Platforms:Avoid Large Cash Transactions}}


{{Prevention:Platforms:End}}
{{Prevention:Platforms:End}}


== Regulatory Prevention Policies ==
== Regulatory Prevention Policies ==
{{Prevention:Regulators:Placeholder}}
{{Prevention:Regulators:Physical Theft Prevention}}


{{Prevention:Regulators:End}}
{{Prevention:Regulators:End}}


== References ==
== References ==
<references><ref name="reddit-10636">[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xddild/bitcoin_atm_broken_into_and_robbed_walnut_creek/ Reddit - Dive into anything] (Sep 13, 2022)</ref>
<references>
 
<ref name="reddit-10636">[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xddild/bitcoin_atm_broken_into_and_robbed_walnut_creek/ Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California... - Reddit] (Sep 13, 2022)</ref>
<ref name="0xupuptwitter-10637">[https://twitter.com/0xupup/status/1569775241835978754 @0xupup Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="0xupuptwitter-10637">[https://twitter.com/0xupup/status/1569775241835978754 0xupup - "I guess the robbers don't really get it" - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
<ref name="eldonsartetwitter-10638">[https://twitter.com/eldonsarte/status/1569785829039677440 eldonsarte - "In Walnut Creek, Ca., a Bitcoin ATM was broken into by robbers who apparently have no clue" - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="eldonsartetwitter-10638">[https://twitter.com/eldonsarte/status/1569785829039677440 @eldonsarte Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="storew1retwitter-10639">[https://twitter.com/storew1re/status/1569747395839201281 storew1re - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California." - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
<ref name="btcfantwitter-10640">[https://twitter.com/btc_fan/status/1569764195842801666 btc_fan - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand how bitcoin works." - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="storew1retwitter-10639">[https://twitter.com/storew1re/status/1569747395839201281 @storew1re Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="asiabitcointwitter-10641">[https://twitter.com/asia_bitcoin/status/1569768432123486214 asia_bitcoin - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand how bitcoin works." - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
<ref name="bitcoinedutwitter-10642">[https://twitter.com/BitcoinEdu/status/1569759579508023296 BitcoinEdu - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand" - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="btcfantwitter-10640">[https://twitter.com/btc_fan/status/1569764195842801666 @btc_fan Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
<ref name="virtualc4ttwitter-10643">[https://twitter.com/virtualc4t/status/1569787869337686016 virtualc4t - "#Bitcoin ATM robbed?" - Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
</references>
<ref name="asiabitcointwitter-10641">[https://twitter.com/asia_bitcoin/status/1569768432123486214 @asia_bitcoin Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
<ref name="bitcoinedutwitter-10642">[https://twitter.com/BitcoinEdu/status/1569759579508023296 @BitcoinEdu Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref>
 
<ref name="virtualc4ttwitter-10643">[https://twitter.com/virtualc4t/status/1569787869337686016 @virtualc4t Twitter] (Apr 3, 2023)</ref></references>

Latest revision as of 14:57, 6 June 2023

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Walnut Creek Bitcoin ATM

A bitcoin ATM robbery in Walnut Creek, California, United States was shared on Reddit by California resident and Reddit user "Calsmokes".

About Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek is a city located in Contra Costa County, California, in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about 16 miles (26 kilometers) east of the city of Oakland. The total population was only 70,127 as of the 2020 census, Walnut Creek serves as a vibrant hub for its neighboring cities because of its location at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco/Oakland (SR-24), and its accessibility by BART[1]. Its active downtown neighborhood features hundred-year-old buildings and extensive high-end retail establishments. The city shares its borders with Clayton, Lafayette, Alamo, Pleasant Hill, and Concord[2].

About Calsmokes

Calsmokes is a regular bitcoin buyer[3] who spends a significant amount of time in California[4][5].

TBD more details on Calsmokes. https://old.reddit.com/user/Calsmokes

The Reality

Walnut Creek has a high crime rate, 32.96 per 1,000 residents, which is much higher than the California average of 23.47 per 1,000 residents, and the United States national average of 19 per 1,000 residents[6]. More than 88% of communities within California have a lower crime rate than Walnut Creek[6]. The majority of the crime in Walnut Creek is property crime, with violent crime making up a much smaller proportion[6].

What Happened

At some point on or about September 13th, 2022, a bitcoin ATM was robbed. This was shared by Reddit user Calsmokes.

Key Event Timeline - Walnut Creek California Bitcoin ATM Robbery
Date Event Description
September 13th, 2022 11:24:55 AM MDT Reddit Post An image of a broken ATM is posted to Reddit along with the caption "Crazy.... Just got robbed"[4].
September 13th, 2022 11:58:00 AM MDT Twitter Bot Repost The Reddit post is shared by Twitter bot storew1re on Twitter[7].
September 13th, 2022 12:47:00 PM MDT Bitcoin EDU Retweeted The Twitter account Bitcoin Edu tweeted the same image and thread title[8].
September 13th, 2022 1:05:00 PM MDT Bitcoin Fan Tweet The btc_fan account shares the same thread on Twitter[9].
September 13th, 2022 1:22:00 PM MDT Asia Bitcoin Tweet The asia_bitcoin account shares a tweet with the thread included[10].
September 13th, 2022 1:49:00 PM MDT Shared on Twitter The Reddit post is shared on Twitter by user 0xupup[11].
September 13th, 2022 2:31:00 PM MDT Shared By Eldon Sarte The Reddit post image is shared on Twitter by user Eldon Sarte[12].
September 13th, 2022 2:39:00 PM MDT Shared By VirtualC4T The same image is shared by Twitter user VirtualC4t[13].
February 24th, 2023 1:43:07 PM MST Smashed Car Window Calsmokes posts another image on Reddit, of a smashed car window in nearby Oakland, California[5].

Technical Details

The exact details of the theft are unclear. From the photo, it appears that the thief managed to break the locking mechanisms on the bitcoin ATM and proceeded to remove the cash contents of the machine. It is unclear if any alarms were triggered by the incident at the time, and if the thief made any additional attempts at further robbery.

Total Amount Lost

Given the nature of bitcoin, it is likely that all losses were in cash. It seems unlikely from the state of the machine that the thief would have been able to feed in any of their stolen money to "purchase" further bitcoin.

The total amount lost was never reported and is thus unknown.

Immediate Reactions

The incident was widely shared on both Reddit and Twitter, but achieved no mainstream media coverage.

Reactions On Reddit

The OP was widely criticized for their apparent lack of understanding of the basics of ATMs[14][15][16].

more likely OP doesn’t understand how a Bitcoin ATM works

Reposting On Twitter

The Reddit thread and related image was widely circulated on Twitter[8][9][10][11][12][13].

Ultimate Outcome

No further information is known about what happened in this case.

Total Amount Recovered

It is unclear whether there have been any funds recovered in this case.

Ongoing Developments

It is unclear if there is a remaining investigation into the theft.

Individual Prevention Policies

This case does not appear to have resulted in a loss to any individual.

For the full list of how to protect your funds as an individual, check our Prevention Policies for Individuals guide.

Platform Prevention Policies

Keeping a large amount of cash in one area and improperly secured allows for theft to occur. The risk level can be minimized by reducing the amount of cash transferred at one time, performing the transfer in a more secure location, conducting the transaction with more individuals present, and retaining more identifying information about the counterparty. Alternatives with lower risk of physical theft such as credit, debit, or eTransfer should also be considered.

For the full list of how to protect your funds as a financial service, check our Prevention Policies for Platforms guide.

Regulatory Prevention Policies

Physical theft is best dealt with through traditional means. The rate of occurrence of physical theft can be reduced through providing effective exchange platforms and better education for individuals.

For the full list of regulatory policies that can prevent loss, check our Prevention Policies for Regulators guide.

References

  1. ↑ Walnut Creek, California Quickfacts (May 23, 2021)
  2. ↑ Walnut Creek, California - Wikipedia (Apr 4, 2023)
  3. ↑ Calsmokes - "I buy every day no matter what so…." - Reddit (Apr 4, 2023)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California... - Reddit (Sep 13, 2022)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Middle of the day. Middle of downtown. In front of Schwabb building. Nothing in the car. People suck. :( - Reddit (Apr 4, 2023)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Walnut Creek, CA Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout (Apr 4, 2023)
  7. ↑ storew1re - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California." - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 BitcoinEdu - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand" - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 btc_fan - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand how bitcoin works." - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 asia_bitcoin - "Bitcoin ATM broken into and robbed. Walnut Creek, California. The criminals obviously don’t understand how bitcoin works." - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 0xupup - "I guess the robbers don't really get it" - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 eldonsarte - "In Walnut Creek, Ca., a Bitcoin ATM was broken into by robbers who apparently have no clue" - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 virtualc4t - "#Bitcoin ATM robbed?" - Twitter (Apr 3, 2023)
  14. ↑ petertherussian - "more likely OP doesn’t understand how a Bitcoin ATM works" - Reddit (Jun 5, 2023)
  15. ↑ maniacmuns - "It takes cash..." - Reddit (Jun 5, 2023)
  16. ↑ misunderstoodR - "You put cash inside lmao" - Reddit (Jun 5, 2023)
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