TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of theft and attempted fraud after he allegedly shoplifted clothing from a Uniqlo store and used it to claim a cash refund at another branch, reports Nippon News Network (Sep. 4).
In June, Tatsuya Tomizawa allegedly entered a Uniqlo store in the capital and placed two pairs of pants, with a combined retail value of 8,980 yen, into a shopping basket. Police say he then concealed the items by placing his backpack over them before heading into a fitting room. Once inside, Tomizawa stuffed the pants into his bag and walked out of the store without paying.
Later that same day, Tomizawa took his scheme to a different Uniqlo location. Presenting the stolen goods to a clerk, he allegedly lied, saying, “I received these as a gift from an acquaintance, but I want to return them.” He is believed to have walked away with 7,300 yen in cash for the fraudulent return.
Tomizawa has remained silent during police questioning.
The crimes came to light after Uniqlo representatives consulted with the police regarding the suspicious transactions.
According to investigators, this is not Tomizawa’s first offense. He had already been arrested prior to this incident for carrying out the exact same scam at other Uniqlo locations.
