Police in Tokyo have arrested a 27-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of snatching a bag containing cash and other items from a woman who was walking along a sidewalk in July.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 1:50 a.m. on July 30 in Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward, Sankei Shimbun reported. Police said Ryuta Ota, who lives in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, is accused of snatching a tote bag containing cash and other items (total value of approximately 224,000 yen) from a 27-year-old female restaurant employee as he passed her in his car.
The incident occurred on a one-way road about five meters wide. A nearby security camera captured footage of Ota driving beside the woman, slowing down and snatching her bag through the driver's seat window.
The woman was not injured.
Police said Ota has admitted to the theft and quoted him as saying he needed money to pay off more than 10 million yen in gambling debts and for living expenses.
Police suspect Ota may also be responsible for another similar theft incident.
© Japan Today
7 Comments
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Jennie
I’m sorry but please don’t hang around kabukicho around 1:50 AM with a bag full of cash…
Gene Hennigh
Drive-by purse theft. That's a close as Japan gets to drive-by shooting. I'd rather live there than in the cowboy movie I'm in right now.
Coulda been
The haul fell a little short of requirements!
falseflagsteve
This nut job will serve some time for this and so he should, a complete scoundrel or the highest order.
Hervé L'Eisa
Some hard time and corporal punishment is fitting.
Japantime
This type of crime happens regularly in Italy. It is famous for people on motorbikes to ride past and snatch items from tourists. This guy must have been to Italy and heard about this way to rob people.
WoodyLee
Inside Job for sure.