TOKYO (TR) – A group of thieves on Thursday attacked several men and women in Taito Ward and robbed then of approximately 420 million yen in cash.
The case could be connected to two other incidents that took place within the next several hours, police said, reports Nippon News Network (Jan. 30).
At around 9:30 p.m., three suspects sprayed the five members of the group, both Chinese and Japanese men and women, with pepper spray in Higashiueno and robbed them of suitcases containing approximately 420 million yen.
The five victims told police that they work as money transporters. At the time, they were loading the suitcases into a car when the suspects attacked them.
The three suspects then fled in a car. They remain on the run, police said.
At around the same time, a vehicle struck a male pedestrian on a nearby street before fleeing. Police are investigating the possibility that the trio may have committed the hit-and-run during their escape.
Early the next morning, a group of three men sprayed pepper spray at a male money exchanger carrying a suitcase containing approximately 190 million yen in cash in a parking lot at Terminal 3 at Haneda Airport.
The three men wound up fleeing the scene without stealing any money.
According to police, one of the men was in his 20s or 30s and wearing dark clothing.
Police are investigating the incident as an assault case. They are also investigating whether there it was related to the robbery in Taito.
