YAMAGATA (TR) – Amid a rash of staged crimes in less than a month, Yamagata Prefectural Police have issued a statement telling the public that they “will crack down” future culprits.
In the latest case, the suspect is 24-year-old Yuka Watanabe. She had claimed that a thief had broke into her home and stolen a wallet on December 1, reports TV Asahi (Mar. 5).
During questioning, Watanabe told police that she was alone at the time when she ran into the intruder. After he assaulted her and stole the wallet, he fled the scene, she said.
However, police were never able to find a sign of the man having broken in. Furthermore, the wallet that was supposed to have been stolen was found at the home.
On Wednesday, police arrested Watanabe on suspicion of obstructing police work by making a false complaint.
Second case
In the second case, firefighter Mitsunari Sato, 54, was found huddled with his hands and feet tied on the grounds of an experiential learning facility in the town of Oe in February.
Sato later told police that two men pointed something like a knife at him after he left his home and stole 800,000 yen in cash.
Sato also claimed that the two men forced him to get behind the wheel of their car and drive. Seven hours later, he was released near the location where he was found, still tied up, he said.
However, police conducted vehicle checks, but were not able to find the two supposed robbers. They later concluded that Sato had fabricated the whole story. He apparently bounds his limbs himself.
Third case
The third case took place in Yonezawa City. At around 12:45 p.m. on January 20, Akira Suzuki, 31, called police from the grounds of an empty house using his smartphone.
He said, “While I was picking up some luggage, I was attacked from behind with something like a cutter. My neck and other parts of my body were slashed. The assailant then ran away.”
On Thursday, police accused Suzuki of staging the attack.
In response to the spate of staged robberies, Yamagata Prefectural Police Chief of Criminal Investigations Yoshihiko Abe issued an unusual statement on Wednesday.
The chief stated, “Reporting false crimes to the police and mobilizing large numbers of police officers to engage in investigative activities such as ‘searching for the culprit’ and to ensure the safety of residents is an extremely heinous act that significantly hinders police activities and causes great anxiety among local residents.”
He added, “This will never be tolerated and we will crack down on it strictly.”
