TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested two male Chinese nationals who are suspected of repeatedly pickpocketing on subways in the capital, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 4).
At around 10:35 a.m. on June 20, Yang Xiaokun, 39, and Liu Dezhong, 40, allegedly worked together to steal a wallet containing approximately 16,000 yen in cash from a woman in her 40s traveling inside a carriage of a Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line train traveling between Yushima and Shin-Ochanomizu stations.
Upon their arrests on suspicion of theft, both suspects denies the allegations. “I didn’t commit the crime,” one of them said.
Regular visits to Japan
According to police, Yang was the perpetrator while Liu acted as a lookout. Security cameras captured them stealing the wallet and other items on the subway.
After the incident, the suspects left Japan. They were arrested upon their return.
The two suspects have visited Japan 16 times for short-term stays since 2023. There have been 189 confirmed cases of pickpocketing on Tokyo subways over the three years from 2023. Of those, 91 cases occurred when the two suspects were in the country. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether they were a duo engaged in repeated pickpocketing.
Pickpocketing incidents rise towards the end of the year. Police are urging people to keep an eye on their bags while on the train.
