Fake S.F. delivery person steals $11 million in cryptocurrency

A thief posing as a delivery person in San Francisco’s Mission Dolores neighborhood made off with a victim’s phone, laptop and $11 million in cryptocurrency, according to a police report obtained by the Chronicle.

The robbery began during daylight hours early Saturday evening, at a home on the unit block of Dorland Street, police said. 

In a home security video of the incident, posted on social media by Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, the suspect is seen approaching the front door of the residence in dark colored-clothing, sunglasses, a hoodie and gloves, carrying a white box by his side. The suspect turns turns his head away from the security camera as he nears the entrance, and his face is never fully visible throughout the video. 

The suspect buzzes in and asks for “Joshua,” claiming that he has a package for him, the video shows. He continues the courier ruse after a person who identified himself as Joshua opens the door. The suspect asks the victim if he could “sign for this,” briefly looks through his own pocket, and then asks the victim if he has a pen. 

After the victim says he’ll look for one, the suspect is seen walking into the home, out of view of the camera, before a loud bang is heard. 

Once inside, police say the suspect brandished a gun and proceeded to tie up the victim with duct tape before fleeing with his belongings. Additional details about the crime, including the circumstances surrounding the cryptocurrency theft, were not immediately made available. 

Tan, who posted about the incident on X Monday morning, described the victim as a friend and member of the community. He asked that anyone else with in the area with video footage between 4:30 and 6 p.m. to contact San Francisco police. The home is near Mission Dolores Park, between Dolores and Guerrero streets.

“We have to find the perpetrator,” Tan said in his post. “Time is of the essence.” 

Tan referenced the crypto theft in a reply to his first X post, saying “Self custody of crypto seems like a good idea until it isn’t. Vault storage (at Coinbase or elsewhere) for long term holding is safest.”

Police said officers responded to the home at about 6:45 p.m. and found the victim suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. They confirmed that no arrests had been made as of Monday morning. 

Attempts to reach the person listed in public records as the homeowner were unsuccessful.