TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a Chinese woman who runs a restaurant for allegedly breaking into Toyosu Market in Chuo Ward and stealing fish bones, reports TBS News (Nov. 28).
On the night of November 21, Wu Huawei, 66, a Chinese woman who runs the restaurant Rakusho in Kachidoki, allegedly broke into a bone collection area in the market and stole approximately 30 kilograms of tuna loins and bones, worth 210 yen.
“I grilled them and served them to customers at the restaurant, and I made meatballs from the bones and ate them myself,” she said in admitting to the allegations.
According to the Tokyo police, security cameras captured Wu placing the bones into a styrofoam container on the back of her bicycle and into the basket on the front.
The collection center collects bones in containers. They can be purchased for 7 yen per kilogram. Buyers process them into fish feed and other products.
Wu frequently visits Toyosu Market to do business with its wholesalers. “I thought I could eat them if I cooked them,” Wu was quoted.
The suspect found the bones while disposing of trash from her restaurant at the Market.
A similar incident occurred the following day, which put Toyosu Market officials on alert.
On November 27, officials were about to hold a meeting to discuss how to respond to the incident when was seen Wu on the grounds pushing her bicycle.
Tokyo police are investigating whether Wu may have committed additional crimes.
