crime

63-year-old man arrested for stealing hand straps from Tokyo subway train

28 Comments

Police have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of stealing hand straps from a subway train on Tokyo's Chiyoda subway line.

The suspect, Michio Matsumura, is suspected of stealing more than 200 hand straps from inside train cars on subway and railway lines since last November, Fuji TV reported Wednesday.

According to police, Matsumura, who lives in Tokyo's Adachi Ward, was arrested by a stakeout team last Saturday night while he was in the act of of stealing hand straps on a Chiyoda line train running between Machiya and Kitasenju stations. Police said he was seen trying to pull down the straps with both hands while twisting them.

Matsumura has admitted to the charge and was quoted by police as saying that "The trains are always crowded and I get tired from having to keep standing. I just wanted to cause the train companies some trouble."

According to police, there have been 37 theft cases in which approximately 200 straps were stolen since last November. Police started staking out the Chiyoda line after security camera footage caught a man who resembled Matsumura pulling at the straps.

Police said Matsumura will be charged with theft and destruction of property.

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28 Comments
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How childish! I've seen this kind of passive aggression here often. People don't like something so they break things and vandalize. At 63 he's supposed to be an adult.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Pathetic on so many levels at least he didnt say he was drunk and doesnt remember a thing.... yet.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Would make a good souvenir though.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

“The trains are always crowded and I get tired from having to keep standing. I just wanted to cause the train companies some trouble.”

You have to give this guy credit for originality though.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Another oldie in questionable mental health. I come across these people almost ever day and I find them pathetic. Many of these old boys have a huge chip in their shoulder and seem to feel so entitled (to what, nobody knows), thinking they can do whatever they want. This is what you get in a society where people aren't taught how to explain themselves.

Police started staking out the Chiyoda line...

Damn, that must be one of the cushiest assignments ever.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Wow! No mention of any therapy for this delusional kleptomaniac.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

was arrested by a stakeout team last Saturday night

So, how many cops, on how many trains, for how many hours...?

Excellent use of taxpayer funds!

Keep up the good work, boys in blue.

2 ( +6 / -5 )

"Matsumura has admitted to the charge and was quoted by police as saying that

The trains are always crowded and I get tired from having to keep standing.

sound like taking a taxi is out of the querstion

"As of October 1, 2015, the population of Tokyo is estimated to be 13.491 million"

"I just wanted to cause the train companies some trouble." = [Cognitive Dissonance]

http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/ABOUT/HISTORY/history03.htm

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Peter QinghaiApr. 20, 2016 - 04:01PM JST was arrested by a stakeout team last Saturday night So, how many cops, on how many trains, for how many hours...? Excellent use of taxpayer funds!

uh, yeah, it is.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

So people have to fall down, because he wants a seat? Has he heard of taxis or buses or bicycles?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Many of these old boys have a huge chip in their shoulder and seem to feel so entitled (to what, nobody knows)

I feel you on this one. Incidentally, I asked one of my students about this and he said that the people who are in their 60s and 70s feel that their hard work is what has made Japan what it is today. They are also upset at how the country is being taken down the tubes (in their opinion) by the younger generation. They may have a point here but it certainly doesn't require stealing straps from a subway to make your point.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Police said he was seen trying to pull down the straps with both hands while twisting them.

Um... Sounds like he was getting too much frustrated. If he had found a healthy outlet for his frustration, he would not have had to twist and steal them. What a pity!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sometimes the Chiyoda line annoys me too, mainly because of the massive wait in between trains even in peak hours. Although there's always seats at the times I use it

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Excellent use of taxpayer funds!

The best.

Seriously, I would also like to know how many coppers they put on this extremely urgent case. Bet they were a few.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

He did us a favour. Those straps are ripe with bacteria. At least now they'll have to get new ones

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I hope this doesn't give any ideas to train commuters in the major cities of the USA.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

arrested by a stakeout team

. . . Dang! I don't know which is more ridiculous.The Adachi-ku police actually deploying a "stakeout team" for the theft of the straps OR the act of stealing the straps, because he was disgruntled from having to stand up all the time.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

How is it ridiculous to stake out for constant vandalism of the trains? You do realize they are police right?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

"The trains are always crowded and I get tired from having to keep standing."

That's what taxis are for! Oh, wait ... they are slower and way more expensive... oh well, just have to gaman or move to the countryside...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I think this is the most adorable crime spree ever. Although obviously thievery was not the best solution, it's pretty cute after hearing about this months ago to learn it was an old man who just wanted a seat! And shame on those who didn't give their seat up for the elderly gentleman. We have to look after older generations or they'll go on mad crime sprees!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

How is it ridiculous to stake out for constant vandalism of the trains? You do realize they are police right?

Guess you're right Strangerland. Its just a ridiculous sort of crime in itself. When I think of vandalism, I think of punks breaking windows or tagging their gangs with spray paint.

. . . . certainly NOT senior citizens stealing train straps. Its really ridiculous, wouldn't you agree a little??

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The crime is ridiculous, I'd agree with that. But making the effort to catch the perpetrator isn't.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Some people here would rather the entire police department sit in their offices until a "real" crime happens... as if vandalism isn't a real crime.

1 ( +2 / -2 )

Here's someone who got an idea for a new business.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sophie,

I don't find this particularly 'adorable' or 'cute'. I would bet a lot that this sad individual is one of Japan's many grumpy old oyaji, and there's a reason he couldn't find a seat. You have no right to act like an asshat just because you're old.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I do thing though, that the old guy should have made room on the priority seats instead. I see people of the wrong age there all the time. Calling them out usually works

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Icthelite In the US, vandals don't even pretend to have an excuse for breaking things, they just do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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