Police in Tokyo have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of robbery resulting in bodily injury after he strangled a woman in her 20s and stole her handbag.
According to police, Itsuki Matsunawa, of unknown occupation, came up behind the woman who was walking home in Hachioji at around midnight on Aug 15, Sankei Shimbun reported. The victim told police a man used a thin cord to strangle her. He then stole her handbag containing around 2,000 yen in cash.
The woman sustained injuries requiring a week to heal, police said.
Police said Matsunawa, who was identified through street surveillance camera footage, has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying, “I haven’t been making much money recently and I needed it [the stolen money] to pay my back rent.”
© Japan Today
19 Comments
Login to comment
Mocheake
Won't need to pay rent in prison. Lucky fool.
Marr Bourdein
So it's premeditated attempted murder and aggravated robbery, pretty serious charges. It doesn't look like he's getting off easy.
WilliB
So he garrotted her? That comes awfully close to attempted murder, not just robbery.
longtimenosee
In a news article I read yesterday, the young women pretended to pass out and then quickly notified authorities. Very smart and brave move.
Mizu no Oto
Have they stopped reporting now where crimes occur in the big Metropolis?
wowyz
"25 yr old of unknown occupation, came up behind the woman in her 20s, who was walking home and used a thin cord to strangle her, then stole her handbag in Hachioji out that way by YKTA.
It seems to be getting unsafe for them to walk the streets alone around midnight.
WilliB
wowyz
If you base your opinion on what appears in the newspaper, you have stay in bed all day. By definition, the news ONLY reports when something bad happens, and not about the millions of young women who walk home completely uneventfully.
Sal Affist
The ladies would have a lot more in their purses in Tokyo. Slim pickings in Hachioji.
wowyz
English fulfillment: seems means; to appear to be, but does not mean it actually is.
thanks...
kaimycahl
Wow what a cowardly selfish act. This thug chose a women to rob. If he wanted money why a women? Was it that he thought she was an easy target and couldn't stand the chance of getting beat down by another man. He said he wanted to pay his rent, I think other wise because hopefully where he is going the rent will be FREE!
Zaphod
kaimycahl
To point out the obvious: 1) physically weaker, so less likely to put up a fight, and b) carry all the belongings in a bag, so no need to rifle through pockets etc.
Didnt really think that has to be spelled out.
bogva
I'm glad the girl is OK!
Apart from that it's an act of desperation - we are seeing more cases like that. And the responsibility is to former PM Koizumi and failed Abenomics...
Gaijinjland
If you're stupid enough to rob someone and risk going to prison for years, do it for more than 2,000 yen. Or go for robbing an old lady, they always carry insane amounts of cash on them at any one time. Not that I'm advocating robbery by any means.
Gaijinjland
I'm guessing this guy is jobless... That happens and people can have unfortunate circumstances. But on top of that I'm guessing he's so messed up that his family cut ties, he has no girlfriend, no friends, no support network to ask for help. The moron should have applied for welfare. They give welfare to anyone, even foreigners, if you currently have a fixed address and can prove you have no assets
Fuzzy
Sick puppy.