KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested a former convenience store manager in Kawasaki City for allegedly extorting 100,000 yen from a female university student after catching her shoplifting.
The arrest is the second for Akira Mochizuki, who was the manager of the FamilyMart Noborito Station store in Tama Ward at the time of the latest incident in April, reports Nippon News Network (June 19).
According to police, Mochizuki caught the university student stealing cosmetics. Instead of reporting the theft, he allegedly threatened the young woman, telling her, “Are you sure about this? You’re going to get a criminal record.”
Mochizuki then forced the student to pay him 100,000 yen under the guise of an out-of-court “settlement.”
During police questioning, Mochizuki denied the allegations, stating, “I have no memory of this.”
However, investigators believe this was part of a broader, ongoing shakedown scheme. Over the past two years, Mochizuki is suspected of pocketing approximately 2 million yen by extorting multiple customers caught shoplifting. Police believe he used the illicitly gained funds to purchase a car and cover the costs of home renovations.
Mochizuki had already been arrested previously on suspicion of attempted extortion involving another shoplifting customer. In that case, he reportedly admitted to the motive, telling investigators, “I thought if I could get settlement money, it would be a nice bit of extra income.”
