crime

Intruder steals ¥7 mil from 78-year-old woman at her home

19 Comments

A man forced his way into the house of a 78-year-old woman in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, assaulted her and then stole 7 million from her safe, police said Sunday.

Police said that the incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sankei Shimbun reported. The woman told police someone called her on the intercom. When she opened the door, a man in his 40s forced his way into the house.

The man choked the woman and demanded cash from her safe. She gave him 7 million yen from the safe and he fled. The woman’s husband, who is disabled, was in another room and unable to do anything to help. 

Police said the woman told them she had received a phone call about a week earlier from someone pretending to be her son. The caller said he had met with an accident and that he would need some money and asked if she could help him. After the call, the woman withdrew some money from the bank and put it in her safe.

Just before the robbery, the “son” called again, asking if the money was ready.

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19 Comments
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If their adult sons and daughters talked to their parents more they would at least recognize the sounds of their sons voice! 

We phone Mr cleo's mother several times a week, and we nearly always have to say who we are. At 95, her hearing isn't what it was.

She does know though, that anyone asking for cash isn't us, or any member of the family.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If their adult sons and daughters talked to their parents more they would at least recognize the sounds of their sons voice! Japanese adults need to talk to their parents more often. How sad she thought any man was her son.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

**So sad! **The man choked the woman and demanded cash from her safe. The woman’s husband, who is disabled, was in another room and unable to do anything to help.

@ Gaijinjland The lady did have the money in the bank, she had a reason to take the money out she was perhaps expecting her son to call her again to help him out, that's why she had it in a safe at home.

There is a reason for banks. That’s why I only keep enough cash in the house for a rainy day. It is beyond stupid to keep more than 100,000 yen in the house the woman told them she had received a phone call about a week earlier from someone pretending to be her son. The caller said he had met with an accident and that he would need some money and asked if she could help him. After the call, the woman withdrew some money from the bank and put it in her safe.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When people ask for large amounts of cash, always smell a rat.

Unless you've really messed up the way you raised him, your son isn't going to phone with a voice you don't recognise and ask for huge amounts of cash.

If you really want to give your son money, use a bank transfer. You should know his account number, and if he asks you to use a different bank/different account /gimme the cash, then smell that rat again.

And do not open the door to all and sundry. That's what door phones and intercoms are for. If you don't recognise the caller and don't know why he's calling, don't open the door.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I bet the son is pretty peeved too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The staff at the bank lets this elderly woman withdraw SEVEN MILLION YEN without batting an eye. But, a konbini clerk helps prevent a customer being scammed out of a few man yen in gift cards.

Maybe I should do my banking at a konbini, just to be on the safe side.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

wtfjapan

 I just dont get how parents in Japan cannot recognize their own children's voice. This happens way too often in Japan to be an exception.

Grand parents, or grand grand parents. You can assume that both senility and hearing loss play a role. Of course it does not affect everyone, as shown by your grandma.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

My grandma who was 97 when I called her last before she passed, would recognize my voice after a few pleasantries had been exchanged. We always lived in different countries and the last time we met in person was 30 years prior to her death. We would talk on the phone once every year or two. Yet, she always recognized my voice. Was she special? or is this normal? (She had about 20 grandchildren including myself) I just dont get how parents in Japan cannot recognize their own children's voice. This happens way too often in Japan to be an exception.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Looks like a violent version of the ore ore scam. I hope they catch the perp.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd love to see someone set a trap for these perps and then beat the shart out of them when they show up.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Don’t trust banks. I don’t have money but I do have a safe in my house. Wish it was full.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Poor lady. There is a reason for banks. That’s why I only keep enough cash in the house for a rainy day. It is beyond stupid to keep more than 100,000 yen in the house

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

"Tragic. Repugnant that there are those who feed on the elderly."

it's their .5 way!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Terrible. Would think that people would think of keeping less money at home as these crimes are reported"

"They know they have a lot of money."

that's right GMS

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They know they have a lot of money.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Terrible. Would think that people would think of keeping less money at home as these crimes are reported

2 ( +4 / -2 )

IMO: some of these rif raft grifters baby yak lanes and jn thangs can be seen sitting on a bike (with beady eyes rolling around) outside the vics house/apt just dialing away, and "one time" rolls right on by them, as usual.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

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