TOCHIGI (TR) – Police apprehended a pair of elderly tire thieves after the light truck they were using to flee the scene of a theft in Nikko City earlier this month overturned, reports Fuji News Network (June 9).
In the early hours of June 7, the two men, aged in their 70s, broke into a materials storage facility owned by a third man and attempted to steal tires and wheels.
The owner, hearing a noise, rushed to the scene and came face to face with the criminals. When the pair attempted to escape in the light truck — owned by the owner — he pursued them in a car transport truck.
At some point during the chase, the light truck overturned and the stolen wheels spilled onto the road.
Heart disease and cancer
The two men were found upside down in the overturned car, apparently due to the fact that they weren’t wearing seat belts. The owner filmed the scene.
“Why did you do this?” the owner asked. “I’m sorry, I’m sick…,” one of the elderly men responded. “Is it okay to do this if you’re sick?” the owner continued. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…,” the man said.
The man said that he had heart disease and cancer. He added that he committed the crime because he had no money. This ridiculous excuse enraged the owner.
“Who asked you to do this?” the owner said. “No one asked me to do it…,” the same man said. “You weren’t to do it? There were two of you. If you’re sick, is it okay to do something like this, you bastards?” the owner continued. “I’m sorry…,” the man said.
Police arriving at the scene arrested the men. Both suspects admitted to the allegations, police said.
“From what I’ve heard, they are both 70 years old and were classmates,” the owner tells Fuji News Network. “I was shocked and saddened to see someone close to my father’s age committing theft.”
According to police, the stolen items include seven tires and wheels worth a total of 50,000 yen. In addition, it will cost about 1.5 million yen to repair the owner’s truck.
“After all, everyone is struggling to make ends meet,” the owner said. “I hope everyone will do what they can without stealing from others.”
