On Saturday night in San Francisco, a robbery at the $4.4 million home of tech investor Lachy Groom, who once dated Open AI CEO Sam Altman, turned into a massive $11 million crypto heist, police and sources familiar with Groom’s past relationship with Altman told the Post.
The suspect pretended to be a delivery driver and blew the door‑bell at Dorland St., holding a white box that recorded in public footage. He introduced himself as “Joshua,” claiming the package was meant for the man who answered the door. After collecting a signature, he rummaged through Joshua’s pockets, asked for a pen, and followed the resident inside, where a loud bang was heard.
Inside, the intruder brandished a firearm, tied Groom with duct tape, and proceeded to drain his crypto accounts while also taking his phone and laptop. Police arrived around 6:45 p.m.; Groom suffered only minor bruises.
According to a source close to the investigation, the robbery was likely staged by an organized crime ring. The attacker allegedly beat Groom while holding his phone to a speaker and then poured liquid over him, lasting roughly 90 minutes while siphoning off his Ethereum and Bitcoin holdings. Groom, 31, had bought the property from Altman’s brother in 2021 for $1.8 million, and the two had been involved in several joint investments in the past, including ventures in which Groom was hailed as an Australian startup prodigy and later a member of “The Stripe Mafia.”
The victim, Joshua, is another tech investor who shares the four‑bedroom house with Groom. Earlier this year, Groom praised Altman on X: “Sam is the most supportive, generous, inspiring person i know. openai has forever changed the world, and i know whatever comes next will be even greater.”
Altman, who married in 2024, has not responded to the Post’s outreach. Groom’s story has shed new light on a relationship that had previously received no coverage.
The Falls Protocols recounted that the house’s valuation per Zillow matches its market price, and that the surrounding Mission District is a hotspot for tech powerhouses—including a former $31 million residence owned by Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg.
Social‑media figure Garry Tan shared the suspect footage on X and urged the public to help identify the thief, saying, “We have to find the perpetrator.” He also warned about the risks of self‑custody, noting that long‑term storage in a vault, such as one at Coinbase, is safest.
The trend of targeting crypto egos continues, says Steve Krystek, CEO of PFC Safeguards. “The people who show they have money are often signaling fame,” he told the Post earlier. “Kidnappings of crypto investors are on the rise.”
No arrest has been announced, and the investigation remains active. Anyone with details is encouraged to call SFPD at 415‑575‑4444 or text TIP411.
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