IBARAKI (TR) – Ibaraki Prefectural Police are searching for a pair of brazen thieves caught on camera prying a water heater from a residence in Kashima City in the dead of night, reports Fuji News Network ( ).
At approximately 2:00 a.m., a vehicle pulled up to the target property. The driver emerged wielding a long, metal bar-like object, scaled the property’s fence, and wedged the tool behind a wall-mounted water heater, violently prying it loose until it crashed to the ground.
A second suspect then exited the passenger side of the vehicle, handing over tools to sever the unit’s hanging cables.
Showers of sparks illuminated the darkness as the thieves cut through the live wiring, but the perpetrators appeared entirely unfazed by the hazard, suggesting they are experienced in the illicit scrap trade.
Working together, the duo quickly scooped up the stolen unit, loaded it into their car, and fled the scene. The entire reckless operation—ignoring the loud crash of the falling unit and the dangerous electrical sparks—took barely four minutes.
The homeowner, who estimates the financial damage at approximately 100,000 yen, expressed anger over the forceful theft.
“If they are left at large, there will likely be more victims,” the victim said. “I just want them to stop.”
