AICHI (TR) – Aichi Prefectural Police are hunting for a gang of four men who brazenly robbed a pawn shop in Toyohashi City, making off with an estimated 10 million yen in luxury goods in a swift, one-minute raid, reports Tokai TV (July 24).
The violent heist, which was captured in its entirety by security cameras, occurred just after 6:30 p.m. on July 23 while the store was still open for business. Footage shows men dressed head-to-toe in black storming into the shop, brandishing crowbar-like tools the moment they entered.
“They were shouting loudly as they smashed the showcase glass one after another,” the store manager said.
Although a staff member near the entrance attempted to resist the intruders, the men continued their rampage undeterred. While two men violently shattered the display cases, another rapidly stuffed high-end watches and jewelry into a bag.
The manager, who was in a back office at the time, hid and called the police.
“It is frustrating”
The entire robbery took only about a minute. The manager noted the highly organized nature of the crime, suggesting the crew was well-prepared. “They had a clear division of roles, and they might have known the exact location of the merchandise beforehand,” he said.
While a full inventory check is still underway, the manager estimates the loss at a minimum of 10 million yen. “It is frustrating, and I feel extremely angry,” he added.
According to investigative sources, the four-man crew—comprising the attackers and lookouts—fled the scene in a getaway car fitted with stolen license plates.
Fortunately, there were no customers in the store at the time of the attack, and no staff members were injured. Police are currently pursuing the suspects on suspicion of robbery.
