TOKYO (TR) — Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of robbery and home invasion after he allegedly broke into a Nerima Ward apartment, assaulted the resident and made off with two Japanese swords, reports TBS News (May 19).
Yutaka Kobayashi is accused of using a crowbar to pry open the front door of the apartment on May 16. Wearing a balaclava to conceal his identity, Kobayashi and an accomplice allegedly entered the residence and assaulted the victim, a man in his 50s, by striking him on the head.
The swords are worth about 200,000 yen, police said.
During police questioning on suspicion of robbery, both Kobayashi and his accomplice denied the allegations, simply stating, “We did not commit a robbery.”
The pair then robbed the man of two Japanese swords valued at a total of 200,000 yen.
Inside job
Despite the suspect’s attempt to hide his face behind a ski mask, the disguise failed. The victim immediately suspected an inside job, telling police, “Isn’t this the work of someone I know?”
His intuition proved correct and ultimately led to the arrest. Police revealed that Kobayashi is an acquaintance of the victim, had previously visited the apartment, and knew exactly where the Japanese swords were kept.
