Police in Tokyo are questioning an unemployed man of no fixed address over his involvement in at least 50 cases of theft involving cash taken from unlocked vehicles.
Police said Hiroyuki Kato, 41, has initially been charged with stealing a bag containing 40,000 yen from an unlocked refrigerated truck in a company parking lot last October, Fuji TV reported Monday.
The 51-year-old driver of the truck bumped into Kato who was riding a bicycle away from the truck. When he saw Kato with his bag, the driver gave chase and dragged Kato off the bike. Kato then ran off, leaving the bag behind.
Police said they traced Kato through his bike and street surveillance camera footage.
Police said they believe Kato may have carried out at least 50 similar thefts in the past four years. Kato has refused to say anything until he speaks with a lawyer.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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Tessa
What he did was bad, but I have to say that I like living in a land where stuff like this actually makes the news.
Fuben
Wait, wait, a man "of no fixed address" is traced "throgh his bike"? How does that compute? Where did they find him? Where was the bike registered.
Of course they do. Would be so convenient if one guy did it all. Good to see someone actually required to talk to a lawyer. Guilty or not, rule of law must be obeyed.
Jason Santana
"Stealing a bag containing 40,000 yen from an unlocked refrigerated truck in a company parking lot" Seriously!!! Why would anyone ever think this is a good idea!
I don't care how safe a country is when dumb people make dumb decisions, dumb things happen.
boboh
^Jason, Y40,000 is a lot of money, if you don't have it!
PeaceWarrior
That guy isn't dumb, he is asking for a lawyer. Dumb is leaving money in your unlocked parked car.
DaDude
Just think about how many people out there continue to leave their cars and houses unlocked.
justbcuzisay
I think Jason was referring to leaving the money unlocked as the 'dumb'
Agree with him, I love that Japan is safe, but this kind of blind trust that you can leave things unlocked and unattended needs to stop. Poverty is increasing, and its better to be safe than sorry.
fuzzylogic
"Kato has refused to say anything until he speaks with a lawyer."
Ode to the Doo da ...Putaro & thangs
nath
So,,, do all unlocked vehicles have money in them?
Peter Qinghai
@justbcuzisay is right.
The gap between rich and poor is widening. Morals are in decline. But here is better than elsewhere in the world, unless the elsewhere is in the middle of nowhere...
Citizen2012
Guess those 50 people would have to disaagree with that Youtube who is claiming after making his wallet test that Japan is the safest country in the world (or something in those lines).
nath
That makes no sense. How does a personal incident change an entire country's standings within the rankings of the world? (hint - it doesn't)