TOKYO (TR) – Prosecutors here have decided not to indict a female office worker after her arrest for allegedly stealing nearly 3 million yen worth of diamond jewelry earlier this year, reports Nippon News Network (Sep. 9).
Yukiko Takahashi was accused of swiping two diamond rings and a diamond bracelet, valued at a combined 2.95 million yen, during a trade show at the Tokyo Big Sight in July.
Upon her arrest last month, Takahashi admitted to the allegations. “I went to the booth, and as I was looking at them, I just wanted them,” she was quoted as telling investigators.
On Wednesday, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office stated that it decided not to indict her “after considering the content of relevant evidence, including the circumstances following the incident.”
The theft took place on the opening day of a major jewelry exhibition, which had drawn a bustling crowd of over 4,000 visitors to the convention center.
According to police, the victimized booth was manned by about five employees at the time of the incident. Blending in with the flood of customers, Takahashi allegedly waited for a moment when the staff looked away to slip the merchandise into her tote bag.
Investigators said she managed to pocket the three items in the span of just 10 minutes.
