SAITAMA (TR) – Police here are hunting for an elusive daytime prowler who brazenly broke into 16 residences in a single neighborhood in Gyoda City, making off with cash and bank cards, reports TV Asahi (Apr. 27).
The string of break-ins took place on April 26 within a tightly clustered residential block spanning just 140 meters in the Mochida district.
The crime spree came to light shortly after 10:00 a.m. when a resident dialed police, telling a dispatcher, “My back door is wide open and cash has been stolen from inside. It looks like neighboring houses have also been targeted.”
According to investigators, the suspect systematically targeted the rear service doors of the properties. The perpetrator ripped through screen doors to gain entry to 16 separate homes between the daytime hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Although the intruder breached over a dozen properties, they only managed to steal from three, pocketing approximately 380,000 yen in cash along with several cash cards.
Police are treating the incident as a case of theft and property damage, and are actively canvassing the area to track down the brazen daylight burglar.
