SHIZUOKA (TR) – Shizuoka Prefectural Police have re-arrested a 43-year-old company employee after he was found prowling a residential neighborhood with an ominous toolkit that included a knife, rope, and a crowbar, reports TV Asahi (Oct. 5).
The bizarre incident unfolded shortly after 11:30 p.m. on September 12 in Mishima City. Police were alerted by a concerned passerby who noticed a man acting strangely in the dark.
“There is a suspicious person wearing a raincoat even though it isn’t raining, and he is taking pictures of someone else’s house,” the caller reported.
Responding officers quickly located the suspect. A search revealed he was carrying a spring-loaded switchblade with a blade exceeding 8 centimeters. The man was immediately taken into custody and admitted to the weapons charge, telling police, “There is no doubt I was carrying a knife.”
However, further investigation painted a much more sinister picture of his late-night stroll. Police discovered that the suspect was walking around not only with the illegal blade, but also carrying a rope, duct tape, and a crowbar.
The discovery led to the man’s re-arrest on suspicion of preparation for robbery.
Despite being caught with the tools typically used for a home invasion, the suspect has denied the allegations. Police are continuing their investigation, operating under the belief that his ultimate motive was robbery.
