Police in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward are investigating a suspected serial arson case after five vending machines were set on fire this month.
Two vending machines within one kilometer of each other were seen burning in the Misono area just after midnight Thursday by residents who notified the fire department, Fuji TV reported.
Police said a flammable substance had been poured into the change slot in a bid to steal money from the machines.
According to police, there have been three other similar incidents in the area since the beginning of January.
© Japan Today
14 Comments
Login to comment
nattorice
Seeing that most of these vending machines can be found in enclosed areas outside small business and apartments building these fires could of easily spread, The local police should try and catch this person before someone gets seriously hurt.
Kobe White Bar Owner
5432.......I was stressed and needed money.
Thunderbird
here is another part of this culture I don't understand: many many crazy people committing arson "for fun", to relieve stress, etc...and this is so frequent in Japan.
Magnus Roe
So how does whoever did this suppose pouring petrol or whatever into these metal boxes, then putting them ablaze will somehow eject funds?
shonanbb
Did he think he could melt the metal box and retrieve the change? WEirdo
Monozuki
Although I don't want to encourage burning vending machines whatsoever, I don't think it makes sense from any angle to steal money.
Tamarama
I am very fond of Itabashi Ward.
Ah_so
An odd crime, but when a bit of minor arson is the lead crime story in Japan, followed by a story about abandoning dogs' corpses, it gives a clue that japan is probably not the most crime-ridden country.
Cliffy
Or, perhaps, the vending machine ate his money?
veejay
Most guys just rub one out. A few have to light something up. Neither are very productive but one is a lot safer.
JBOSSLIFE
If u wanna get money, go to work! Breaking the machines will just cause other people a lot of trouble...
Jumin Rhee
If the fire spread to the plastic parts of the machine, then it can be classified as toxic and danger to society (though some may charge machine manufacturers for latter as well ).
Oh, Pie!
Yes, that's right, burn the machine so you can get the melted, singed money inside. Ingenious!
Citizen2012
Unless stealing the money is not the main reason...maybe it could also be some kind of territory fight between vendors competitors to gain access to some location, like mafia slot machine.