26-year-old man arrested in alleged Bitcoin mining computer theft

A Canyon Country man was arrested for allegedly possessing stolen "Bitcoin-mining" computers, and an investigation was continuing Monday.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives from the Commercial Crimes Division's Cargo Theft Unit arrested Bryan Thola, 26, on Thursday, police said. According to the LAPD, investigators discovered the computers in Thola's cargo van and in a public storage unit.

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The computers, commonly used in cryptocurrency thefts, were valued at $579,000, police said.

Thola was booked at the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of receiving stolen property. He was released the following morning on his own recognizance, according to jail records.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and urged anyone with information regarding the stolen Bitcoin-mining computers to contact the LAPD Comercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5920 between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org .

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