<figure id="attachment_389459" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1178px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389459"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f4675bff"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/071fc3f4e631855cf8ebfdee070e4f28.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389459" class="wp-caption-text">Suspect of repeated pickpocketing around Tokyo Station.</figcaption></figure>
It appears that a pair of individuals had been repeatedly committing pickpocketing around Tokyo Station since July.
On the morning of August 27th around 11:00 AM, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Investigation Division 3 arrested two suspects of Chinese nationality, Li Dehui (60) and Yuan Ronggui (60), on suspicion of theft. Our camera crew captured footage of Yuan being escorted on the morning of August 29th, shortly after 8:00 AM. He was seen sitting in the back seat of the police vehicle with a sullen expression.
&#8220;The incident leading to the arrest occurred on the JR Tokyo Station platform on the morning of the 27th. The suspects allegedly conspired to target a man in his 60s, Mr. A, who was about to board the Tokaido Line from Hiroshima City. Mr. A had a shoulder bag slung diagonally across his back. The suspects are said to have stolen approximately 26,000 yen in cash and a wallet containing six items valued at about 5,000 yen, including credit cards, from the bag. Mr. A apparently did not realize the theft had occurred,&#8221; reported a journalist from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.
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<h2>Investigators Pursue and Capture Suspects</h2>
Since July, more than 10 similar pickpocketing incidents have been reported around Tokyo Station. The suspects, who were frequently captured on security cameras, were observed by investigators during their pursuit. This led to their arrest in the act of committing the crime.
During police questioning, Li Dehui admitted to the crime, saying, &#8216;There is no mistake.&#8217; In contrast, Yuan Ronggui denied any involvement, claiming, &#8216;I did not steal the wallet and did not cooperate.&#8217;
Their method of operation is quite surprising.
&#8220;The method they used is known as &#8216;pickpocketing during boarding,&#8217; where they target passengers at the moment they board the train. Victims are often distracted by getting on the train and securing a seat, making them unaware of the theft. In this case, it is believed that Yuan acted as a lookout to avoid detection by those around, while Li carried out the theft,&#8221; reported the source.
With the increase in foreign tourists and the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more opportunities for people to crowd together, leading to a rise in pickpocketing incidents. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, there were approximately 370 reported cases in the city by August this year, nearly a 20% increase from last year. The police are urging people to be cautious by keeping their bags in front of their bodies.
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Repeated pickpocketing ...... Chinese national &quot;shivering face&quot; photo"></div>
<figure id="attachment_389462" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2041px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389462"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b799fd25"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/a72d21b95d89f246b44cf145a4ec62dd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389462" class="wp-caption-text">It is believed that the two suspects had distinct roles, with one acting as the perpetrator and the other as the lookout.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_389463" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2658px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389463"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="59505af8"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/d784bbc551046cb18277d582382db4c5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389463" class="wp-caption-text">Among the two, Yuan Ronggui denies involvement in the crime.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_389464" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2041px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389464"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9f9d652e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/89695c600924526fc0fc33b0e99a01d7.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389464" class="wp-caption-text">They used the &#8216;pickpocketing during boarding&#8217; method.
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 Shinji Hasuo

 A pair of Chinese nationals were arrested for repeatedly picking pockets in the Tokyo Station area, committing more than 10 thefts since July. What was their surprising method of "hijacking"?

Chinese Pickpocket Duo Targets Tokyo Station Passengers in Over 10 Incidents Since July

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