FUKUOKA (TR) – Police in Kitakyushu City have arrested a 27-year-old man who allegedly hijacked a vehicle from a woman at a convenience store parking lot before being found staggering along an expressway, reports TV Asahi (July 31).
At around 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect suddenly climbed into the passenger seat of a light passenger vehicle (kei car) occupied by a female driver. Startled by the complete stranger, the woman stepped out of the car. The suspect then slid into the driver’s seat and sped out of the parking lot.
The incident took a rapid turn shortly after when the stolen vehicle was spotted approximately 10 kilometers away on a local expressway. A witness contacted authorities, reporting that a car was traveling “with its right front tire blown out.”
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the suspect unsteady on his feet, staggering as he attempted to get back into the crippled vehicle. He reportedly reeked of alcohol at the time.
The suspect, identified as self-proclaimed part-time worker Ryusuke Shiroma, was arrested on the spot.
Upon questioning, Shiroma denied the allegations of auto theft, offering a bizarre justification for his actions.
“I remember driving, but I thought that car was a regular passenger vehicle from my workplace,” Shiroma told police.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
