KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural police have arrested two men who are suspected of committing thefts at businesses across nine prefectures dating back to last year, reports TV Asahi (Feb. 27).
On the night of January 4, Kazuya Nakamura, 30, and Soichiro Shimizu, 21, are suspected of breaking into a construction company office in Iga City, Mie Prefecture by using a crowbar-like device.
They then stole a safe containing approximately 16 million yen in cash and 533 gift certificates valued at approximately 1.67 million yen.
Upon their arrests, both suspects admitted to the allegations. One of them said, “We targeted the countryside, away from downtown, in the middle of the night when there were fewer people around.”
Since November, the suspects repeatedly broke into stores and other establishments in various locations, including the Kanto (Kanagawa), Tokai (Mie) and Kansai regions.
Stole cash and valuables
In carrying out the crimes, the pair used 12 rental cars. They were apprehended at a hotel in Tokyo on January 14.
In 77 incidents, the pair stole cash and valuables worth approximately 26 million yen, which they reportedly used to cover living expenses, drinking and brand-name goods.
The two men, both from Hokkaido Prefecture, said they met at a construction site for temporary housing after the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. After moving to Tokyo together, they turned to a life of crime after they ran out of money.
Police first arrested the pair in January on suspicion of embezzlement through the fraudulent use of a rental car. However, those charges have been suspended.
