TOKYO (TR) – Management of an outlet of a hamburger chain in Toshima Ward lodged a report with police after a thief entered the premises after closing and stole 200,000 yen in cash.
Bashi Burger Chance is known for its hand-kneaded patties made with carefully selected meat. The break-in, which took place at around 1:30 a.m. on September 17, was captured in security camera footage.
The footage shows an individual rummaging through the inside of the shop. After reaching for keys, he immediately opens the register and takes out some bills.
With skilled hands, he removes them one by one. After returning the keys to their original location, he quickly leaves the premises.
It only took 90 seconds.
“It was pretty bold”
“[He] looked through my keys, opened the register, and took everything,” says Hiromu Hashitani, the CEO of the chain. “[He] just kept taking [the bills] and putting [them] down. It was pretty bold.”
Three years ago, another outlet of the chain, located in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, was the target of another theft. After closing time, a thief broke into the entrance door and stole money inside. However, this time was different.
“[He] just took the key and didn’t break anything, [he] just opened it with the key,” Hashitani says.
It is believed the thief used a key for the entrance, which was stored in a different place, to get into the store. The thief then found the key to the cash register inside and left without breaking a thing.
When business resumed in the morning, the employees only noticed the missing bills.
“It’s important money,” Hashitani says. “I’ll miss it, and I’d be happy if they returned it. Everyone is working hard.”
Tokyo Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident as a theft, considering it possible that the crime was committed by someone with knowledge of the store’s internal affairs.
