crime

Man arrested for stealing and reselling over 30 expensive bicycles

19 Comments

Police in Toyama City have arrested an unemployed 44-year-old man on suspicion of stealing and then reselling more than 30 expensive bicycles.

According to police, the suspect, Takahisa Yamamoto, was caught in the act of stealing a sports bike in a bicycle parking lot at Minami-Toyama Station on Dec 12, Sankei Shimbun reported Tuesday. A police officer who was patrolling the area on the day of the incident saw Yamamoto break the bike’s lock and attempt to flee the scene. The officer pursued Yamamoto and arrested him.

Following Yamamoto's arrest, police officers inspected several recycle shops based on Yamamoto’s statement and discovered at least 30 bicycles that he admitted to stealing.

Police quoted Yamamoto as saying he repeatedly stole expensive-looking bicycles parked at train stations and similar places and then resold them.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

Police quoted Yamamoto as sayinghe repeatedly stole expensive-looking bicycles parked at train stations and similar places and then resold them.

who says japanese economy is stagnant?!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Mine was pinched in Osaka at the beginning of the year. I'd had it for 10 years, and hadn't ridden it for a few months, so I wasn't too bothered.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Re-cycling! (sorry!)

I'm curious to know how he was reselling them. Was he selling them on the internet or just taking them to Hard Off? I thought all bicycles had to be registered. Wouldn't this make theft an impossibility? Or, is the registration only to generate revenue and to give the cops something to do?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Re-cycling! I like that one, well done.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Interesting use of the word 'reselling'. Would 'selling' not be sufficient? 'Reselling' places unnecessary emphasis on the fact that they were originally sold, by a new-bicycle shop presumably. No doubt true, but is that relevant?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I am glad they finally catch those dirty thieves, I seriously hope he will be sexually violated on daily basis in jail.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hey I got my bicycle stolen in this same city a couple of years ago between 10pm and 11pm just from the bicycle rack in front of my apartment! It wasn't that expensive, just a 30,000 yen Miyata that I bought only a month before but as it was one of those thin frammed bicycles with drop handlebars the amateur perpetrator might have thought it costed a fortune like the real roadbikes do... after that unless I'm riding a mama chari I always park my bicycle in a place not visible to pedestrians, even if I have to park it on the craziest places possible.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"'m curious to know how he was reselling them. Was he selling them on the internet or just taking them to Hard Off? I thought all bicycles had to be registered. Wouldn't this make theft an impossibility? Or, is the registration only to generate revenue and to give the cops something to do?""

Yep

"Police in Toyama City have arrested an unemployed 44-year-old man on suspicion of stealing and then reselling more than 30 expensive bicycles." Looks like they left out no fixed address, and surprisingly it remembers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I demand a capital punishment or better yet cut his hand off .. nothing worse than taking something that doesnt belong to you.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"'m curious to know how he was reselling them. Was he selling them on the internet or just taking them to Hard Off? I thought all bicycles had to be registered. Wouldn't this make theft an impossibility? Or, is the registration only to generate revenue and to give the cops something to do?""

Yep

Nope. My bike got stolen and was returned to me after it was found on the other side of the city, as I had registered the serial number.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Most people register their bicycle upon purchase takes 500yen and you geta yellow sticker on your cycle.

Cops tend to do spot checks on reported stolen; ones that match a description like silver, no rear basket etc.

Hence why I avoid those colours, etc.

Ditto for cars, some makes and colours are in demand.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its not compulsory to register your bike but a good idea. Some guys who buy high end bikes don't because they don't want to put a sticker on their $$$ bike, but I would also assume these guys are pretty careful about not leaving it at stations.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Top value bikes got their market but the way more profitable is in low-end models, ditto for cars. Hint is in the insurance premiums.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

LOL, I once locked my old unregistered bicycle with a heavy cable lock (front and back wheels), and purposely left it in a "no parking" zone at a supermarket so that it would be seized, just so I wouldn't have to pay a recycling fee

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Had my bike (not expensive) pinched last year so got myself a nice carbon thing and registered it with the silly red sticker thingo. Now i love being stopped by the police and them checking the registration number, my Japanese skill drop hugely when they are questioning me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I cant remember, I was drunk from all the bicycles I sold online.... oops

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sensei: Why waste money on the locks? Just scrape off your insurance serial number and leave it at the bottom of the steps of any station.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I had bought the lock at the same time as the bike. I moved into a mansion close to downtown, so I no longer had a need for either of them

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My bike lives in the lounge room and is never out of sight. Little punks like this have no chance to steal it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites