CHIBA (TR) – Police in Chiba City are hunting for two masked suspects who were caught on a security camera brazenly breaking into a residence while an elderly man slept just feet away, reports Fuji News Network (Aug. 25).
The break-in occurred at around 1:00 a.m. on August 22. Security footage from the home’s guest room captured a flashlight flickering through sliding doors before the duo shattered a glass window to gain entry.
Moving silently to avoid detection, the suspects were seen wearing hats, masks, and gloves. With flashlights clenched in their mouths, they proceeded to ransack the property.
The intruders made their way into a back bedroom where the elderly homeowner was fast asleep.
“My blood ran cold. I never thought something like this could happen,” a family member said. “My father was sleeping right there in the back room. If he had woken up and tried to resist, I shudder to think what could have happened.”
The only resident to immediately notice the intruders was the family’s pet cat, which was captured on camera quietly watching the unfamiliar men as they scoured the house. Ignoring the animal’s gaze, the duo continued their search before fleeing through the same shattered window just five minutes after entering.
The victim’s son suspects the property was carefully scouted in advance.
“Salespeople sometimes come by, and since my father is elderly, he ends up chatting with them. I think the perpetrators might have used tactics like that to case the house before breaking in,” he said.
The full extent of the stolen property is still being confirmed, and the family is now rushing to upgrade their home security systems.
Local police are currently pursuing the two suspects on suspicion of trespassing and burglary.
