- Authorities in Hong Kong arrested two technicians for operating eight illegal crypto mining rigs in care homes for the disabled.
- The hidden mining equipment caused monthly electricity bills to rise by up to $1,150 for the affected facilities.
- The suspects allegedly installed the rigs during renovation work by concealing them in office ceilings.
- Police urge organizations to monitor contractors and be alert for abnormal power use, as electricity theft can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.
- Similar cases of illegal crypto mining and power theft have occurred recently in Thailand, the UK, and Central Asia.
Two men were detained by Hong Kong police after allegedly setting up eight unauthorized cryptocurrency mining devices in care homes for disabled individuals. The technicians are accused of using their access during building renovations to hide the machines in office ceilings, reportedly leading to inflated electricity costs for the facilities.
According to police, the equipment operated around the clock and increased the homes’ monthly electricity bills by up to $1,150. Inspector Ng Tsz-wing of Sham Shui Po’s technology and financial crime squad stated that staff discovered the devices after noticing persistent slowdowns in the care home’s internet connection. IT personnel found the hidden rigs above the ceiling, prompting similar checks and findings at another location.
Police arrested the suspects in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po on charges of “abstracting electricity.” Investigators said there is no evidence of a wider group being involved. Inspector Ng Tsz-wing advised organizations to supervise contractors during renovations and to watch for unexpected spikes in energy bills, adding that concealed equipment can go undetected for months. Under Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance, illegally using electricity can result in up to five years in prison.
Illegal crypto mining is a growing global issue. Shanon Squires, Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining, described it as “power theft and a safety risk.” Squires added that this conduct violates principles of property rights, with the burden of payment falling on unaware victims. He also commented, “The mining rigs shown by Hong Kong police do not appear to be Bitcoin miners,” noting that small-scale illegal mining activity often targets other digital currencies.
Cryptocurrency mining is a process that uses specialized computers to solve mathematical puzzles in exchange for coins, which consumes large amounts of electricity. Research by Digiconomist estimates that Bitcoin mining’s carbon impact matches Belgium’s yearly emissions, while its energy use is comparable to Thailand’s.
Recent cases in other countries include Thai police seizing 63 mining machines illegally connected to power lines in Pathum Thani province, and UK officers uncovering unauthorized mining in West Yorkshire. In Central Asia, officials reported millions in electricity stolen for illegal mining in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
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