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How a cryptocurrency robbery in SF led to an international manhunt in Taiwan

A screenshot of Tianze Zhang being escorted by Taiwanese officials. Zhang was a fugitive who was captured by SFPD and Taiwanese official after he allegedly stole $3 million from a person in San Francisco. Courtesy Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency

The intruder was unrecognizable in ski goggles and a hood—but he seemed to know exactly what he wanted from the victim when he bound her in duct tape and forced her to relinquish a fortune in digital currency.

Two months later—in an investigation that took authorities from that home invasion in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood to Taiwan—police are saying the masked man targeted a former employer at knifepoint to pilfer $3 million in cryptocurrency.

The story made international headlines after SFPD announced over the weekend how an international manhunt, with help from the FBI, led them to extradite Tianze Zhang, 30.

A screenshot of a press conference of Dustin Lee, right, head of International Criminal Affairs Division, Criminal Investigation Bureau addressing the media on Monday, June 6 in Taiwan following the capture of Tianze Zhang. Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency

Here’s what we gleaned about the case from Chinese-language coverage:

      Surveillance footage of Tianze Zhang, right, after crawling out of the back of a vehicle while in hiding. Mr. Zhang was a fugitive who had allegedly robbed $3 million from a person in San Francisco. Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency
          A screenshot of Tianze Zhang, right, a fugitive who had allegedly robbed $3 million from a person in San Francisco. He was captured in Taiwan. Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency

            Zhang is now jailed in San Francisco while the District Attorney’s Office decides how to charge him.

            Han Li can be reached at han@sfstandard.com

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