TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a suspected burglar who used a blow torch to gain access to residences in east Tokyo, reports the Sankei Shimbun.
At around 8:00 p.m. on June 5, Kan Nagamine, 47, allegedly broke into the Adachi Ward residence of a 55-year-old woman and stole 131,000 yen in cash and 10 gift certificates (worth a total of 7,700 yen).
Upon his arrest on suspicion of theft and trespassing, Nagamine denied the allegations. He said, “I have no recollection of this at all.”
Police believe that Nagamine used the blow torch to heat the glass of a window that he later broke in order to gain access to the residence.
Since around May, there have been five burglaries in detached houses in Adachi and Katsushika wards in which glass windows were broken after they were first heated.
Nagamine’s involvement surfaced as an examination of security camera footage. The total value of lost property is estimated to be about 7.8 million yen. During the investigation, police seized a blow torch, screwdriver and other items believed to be tools used in the crimes from Nagamine’s home.
AloJapan.com