KANAGAWA (TR) – Police in Hiratsuka City have arrested a 47-year-old man for stealing from a temple offering box, an arrest that comes as the temple reels from a separate, brazen attempted break-in by masked suspects, reports TV Asahi (Sep. 28).
The suspect, who identified himself as Noboru Kato, was arrested in the act after pocketing 1,500 yen from Myoenji Temple at just past midnight on Sunday.
Security footage captured Kato pulling down the saisen (offertory) box, turning it upside down to shake out the loose coins, and casually replacing it.
However, as he attempted to walk away, he was confronted from behind by the temple’s deputy chief priest. The suspect was reportedly caught so off guard that he immediately attempted to hand the stolen cash back.
According to the deputy priest, Kato was a creature of habit. “He showed up every day at the exact same time, took the exact same route, and stole offerings,” he said.
“Nothing but terrifying”
While the arrest brought a brief moment of relief to the temple, it was short-lived. “It was nothing but terrifying,” the deputy priest said, referring to a separate incident that occurred days prior.
At around 4:00 a.m. on September 22, security cameras captured a car pulling up to the temple. Two individuals emerged, their faces completely obscured by cloth. The pair completely ignored the outdoor offering box and headed straight for the side doors of the main hall.
Prying at the heavy wooden doors with a thin, rod-like tool, the duo left multiple deep scratch marks. “One person acted as a lookout while the other used a tool to try and pry it open,” the priest explained.
After failing to breach the side entrance, they moved to the front doors and attempted to force those open as well.
Fled empty-handed
The suspects were ultimately unable to get inside, and fled without stealing anything. “It’s the first time someone has suddenly tried to break directly into the main hall,” the priest added.
Police are now hunting for the masked duo and are investigating links to a similar attempted burglary at another nearby shrine.
