“Money, Please.” Man Wakes to Find an Armed Intruder at His Bedside — Robbery Strikes Even on 2nd-Floor Apartment

The terror that struck a woman in her sleep

“Money, please.”

Anyone would feel their blood freeze if they woke up early in the morning to find a man holding a weapon at their bedside and threatening them like this.

On the morning of November 10, the suspect sent from the Shinjuku Police Station to prosecutors was Ashraf Daiya Masuda (24), of no known occupation. With long dreadlocked hair reaching his back and a slender but towering frame of about 190 cm, one can easily imagine the fear felt by the woman whose room he entered.

Masuda was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s International Crime Countermeasures Division on suspicion of robbery and unlawful entry. Around 5:40 a.m. on October 10, he allegedly broke into a second-floor apartment of a condominium in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, showed the female resident in her 20s what appeared to be a weapon, and stole approximately 23,000 yen in cash.

“Masuda is believed to have climbed from the garbage collection area on the ground floor up to the second-floor balcony, then entered through an unlocked window. The woman called 110 herself immediately after the incident and was not injured. There appears to have been no prior acquaintance between them.

Security cameras recorded Masuda wandering around the area for several hours before the crime, and the police believe it was a planned act. There were also indications that he changed clothes after the crime to escape.” (Social affairs reporter)

During questioning, Masuda reportedly denied the allegations, saying, “I have no recollection of that.” The police are investigating the possibility of additional crimes.

In this case, Masuda entered through an unlocked window on the second-floor balcony. Crime-prevention advisor Toshihiko Matsumaru warns, “People living on the second floor or higher of a condominium often feel safe and leave their windows open because it’s not the first floor. But there are thieves and burglars who target those floors.” Even on the second or third floor, it can be easy for someone at a slight distance to notice whether a window is unlocked.

Use security film and auxiliary locks as countermeasures

“In this case, the robber entered even though the resident was inside the room. It’s possible he knew who lived there before breaking in. Of course, the most important thing is simply to lock your windows properly.

On top of that, if you want additional measures, security film is effective. Applying security film makes it take much longer to break a window, delaying entry. When someone tries to break a window with the film on, cracks spread like a spiderweb, it makes noise, and it takes time to break through. According to National Police Agency statistics, 70% of intruders give up if it takes more than five minutes to open a window.”

Another effective measure is an auxiliary lock (“hojōjō”).

“If you want to keep windows open slightly while cleaning during the day, or if you have children at home, auxiliary locks are very useful. These can be installed afterward on sliding windows or doors and are inexpensive at home improvement stores. Once installed, the window or door cannot open beyond a set width, preventing an intruder from entering. While it’s technically possible to force it open with enough strength, it will make noise, allowing you to notice quickly.

A key point when installing auxiliary locks is to place them as high as possible. If installed low, someone could crouch down to release the lock. But if placed high, the intruder must stretch upward to unlock it, making it harder to open and making their actions more noticeable. Ideally, use both security film and auxiliary locks together.”

In the past, even people on the first floor would sleep with windows open during hot seasons, but now, unless proper security measures are in place, it has become difficult to sleep safely.

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