Suddenly， a suspicious person opens the back door and asks， “Can I use your toilet？” More than 10 cases have been reported in Hiroshima Prefecture， asking， “Can I exchange some money？” and “Are you alone？” The person may have been scouting out a robber．
Amid a series of residential robberies in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the prefectural police have received at least 10 reports since October of suspicious individuals visiting private homes in Hiroshima Prefecture and asking to use the toilet, among other things. Prefectural police are stepping up their vigilance as they believe there is a possibility that these are “preliminary inspections” to ascertain assets and family structure. According to the prefectural police, there were one to four cases of visits by suspicious people in the Saeki, Higashi, and Asaminami wards of Hiroshima City, as well as in Hatsukaichi and Higashihiroshima cities. They would visit the victims alone or in groups during the day or at night, asking things like, “Can we use your restroom?” or “Can I have some juice?”, and ask about their family composition and the times when they would be away from home. In one case, a pair of men in their 30s visited in a car with license plates from outside the prefecture. In the case of the incidents in the Tokyo metropolitan area, suspicious visits posing as renovation contractors or the like were confirmed in the vicinity of the crime scene beforehand. In October, three junior and senior high school students aged 14 to 18 from the Kanto region were arrested by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police in Hikari City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on suspicion of attempted robbery after they had attempted to break into a private home. Police departments in five prefectures in the Chugoku region have stepped up patrols in residential areas and mountainous regions. The Hiroshima Prefectural Police are providing information on their website and crime prevention app about safeguards such as keeping your doors locked, not letting strangers into your home, and not disclosing personal information. They are urging people to call 110 immediately if they suspect anything suspicious. ◼As you relax after breakfast, “May I use your restroom?” A woman in her 80s from Hiroshima City who was visited by a suspicious man in October spoke to the Chugoku Shimbun. The man entered through the back door without permission, and when the woman let him use the toilet, he asked, “Can I have some money?” and “Are you alone?” “It may have been a reconnaissance mission (for a robbery, etc.). I should have refused from the beginning,” the woman regretted. The man entered through the back door around 8:30 a.m. on October 10th. I had finished breakfast and was relaxing in the living room. Suddenly, the kitchen door opened and a man in his 30s with dark hair and a shirt appeared. The man put his black bag on the table and asked, “Can I use your toilet?” Not understanding the situation, the woman told the man where it was, and he returned a few minutes later. He then grabs some coins and says, “Give me some change.” “I don’t have any money.” When I replied, I was asked, “Are you alone?” The man quickly nodded and left through the back door without replying. Read more below [Chugoku Shimbun] 2024/11/5 (Tue) 7:02.
>>1 Would he have gone in through the back door to check the place out? I don’t know if it was a burglar from a shady part-time job or a regular burglar, but it might not have been a check-out, it might have been for real. It’s also possible that he got scared after being found out as soon as he entered the house.
>>2 These days, there are measures in place to prevent intruders from entering through windows, etc., but if you open the back door or front door like this and invite them in, it’s no good.
>>8 They’re sending robbers from Ibaraki to Yamaguchi They don’t seem to be targeting the wealthy I’m scared they’d be a target anywhere in the country.
After all, reconnaissance and preparation are important. They say 80% of a job is planning. Even among working adults, there are plenty of incompetent people who can’t plan things, but he’s an excellent robber.
There seem to be a fair number of people taking on illegal part-time jobs. I think the number will increase as we get closer to the end of the year, so I need to be careful.
A woman in her 80s from Hiroshima City who was visited by a suspicious man in October responded to an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun. If the next one is a media interview, I’m sure I’ll be fooled right away…
Summary of suspects of the mastermind so far ・Advertising agency ・Police ・Security company ・Ruling party ・Security equipment manufacturer ・Television show ・Public security Any others?
Wouldn’t the economy move better if money went to young people who are quick to spend it, rather than to old people who just hoard it? This may be a necessary evil.
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