TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested two male Chinese on suspicion of pick-pocketing a commuter about to board a train in Chuo Ward.
The case, which took place this week, is part of a surge in thefts on public transportation in the capital, police said, according to the Sankei Shimbun (Aug. 30).
In this latest incident, police have accused Li Dehpai and Yuan Ronggui, both aged 60, of theft. Li admits to the allegations, while Yuan denies the charges.
At around 11:00 a.m. on August 27, the pair allegedly stole six items from the shoulder bag of the male commuter from Hiroshima Prefecture, including a wallet containing 26,000 yen in cash, as he was about to board a train at JR Tokyo Station.
In carrying out the theft, Yuan is thought to have acted as a lookout to prevent other passengers from seeing the crime, police said.
Security camera footage showed the two suspects repeatedly pick-pocketing around JR Tokyo Station. Investigators were tracking the two suspects when they committed this crime, and they were arrested on the spot.
Calling for caution among commuters
Pick-pocketing has been on the rise in Tokyo, especially on trains, according to police. As of August 29, the number of pick-pocketing incidents this year stood at 366, an increase of 61 compared to the first eight months of last year.
Among those totals, pick-pocketing incidents at railway-related facilities are on an upswing, having increased by 20 to 159.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police is calling for caution among commuters. “Please be sure to hold your bag in front of you on the train or on the platform,” the department said in a statement.
