FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested a 26-year-old man suspected in a series of thefts from shrines in Fukuoka City, reports TV Asahi (Dec. 10).
At around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, an alarm at Atago Shrine in Nishi Ward was tripped. Police and security personnel arriving at the scene about 40 minutes later apprehended Ryota Sasaki, who has no permanent residence, for trespassing.
A saw believed to belong to the suspect was found at the scene.
Two days before, two other shrines had their offering boxes cut open and pillaged.
Police are investigating whether Sasaki used the saw to carry out the thefts at the other shrines.
