IBARAKI (TR) – Police here have referred three men to prosecutors for allegedly stealing massive amounts of copper wire from abandoned schools and parks in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures to buy illegal drugs, reports TV Asahi (June 23).
Satoshi Oyama, 46, and two accomplices are accused of swiping approximately 350 copper cable items between August and November of last year. Police recently served the trio with additional charges following a string of arrests that began last November.
During police questioning, all three men admitted to the allegations.
“We used the money for living expenses and entertainment, as well as to purchase kakuseizai,” the suspects were quoted as telling investigators in referring to methamphetamine.
According to investigators, the theft ring targeted 41 different locations — including shuttered middle schools and public parks — netting copper cables valued at roughly 26 million yen.
The suspects then hauled the stolen metal to scrap dealers, where it was exchanged for cash.
