Mitsubishi UFJ Safe Deposit Theft What Made the Female Defendant Break Her Rule

Female Branch Deputy Manager Steals from Bank Safe Deposit Boxes

From the many incidents reported by FRIDAY Digital in 2025, we bring you a selection of particularly shocking and major cases: this time, the Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Safe Deposit Theft Incident, which greatly shook public trust in banks.

On January 14, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested former Mitsubishi UFJ Bank employee Yukari Yamazaki (46 at the time), on suspicion of stealing 19.5 kg of gold bars (worth approximately 260 million yen) from customers’ safe deposit boxes.

In addition to this arrest charge, Yamazaki was suspected of stealing cash, precious metals, and other valuables from customers’ safe deposit boxes at the Nerima and Tamagawa branches where she worked, over a period of four and a half years from April 2020 to October 2024. The theft came to light in October 2024 after inquiries from safe deposit box users. Yamazaki admitted to the crimes during an internal investigation and was dismissed from the bank on November 14 of the same year. The bank filed a criminal complaint with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police in late December.

FRIDAY Digital at the time reported the following details of the crime (note: Yamazaki’s surname at the time of the incident was Imamura, so the past article uses that name):

“Last September, while working at the Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Nerima branch, she was arrested on suspicion of opening two customers’ safe deposit boxes without permission and stealing gold bars. The gold bars had already been pawned at a total of seven pawnshops across Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, and Imamura has admitted the charges. There are numerous other offenses, with more than 60 victims, and the total damages are estimated to exceed 1.7 billion yen.

Imamura was in charge of managing the spare keys to the bank’s safe deposit boxes and used these keys to commit the thefts. When it seemed that the disappearance of cash in a box might be discovered, she would compensate from another safe deposit box. When a customer arrived unexpectedly, she would pretend the safe deposit box was malfunctioning to turn them away. Thanks to her sophisticated concealment tactics, her crimes went undetected for four and a half years.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

It is believed that Imamura spent the majority of the profits from the thefts on forex trading and horse racing. According to investigators, “She invested significant sums in forex and horse racing over more than five years. As of now, the losses from forex alone are estimated to exceed 1 billion yen.”

She gave the impression of coming from a wealthy family

Defendant Yamazaki, who caused massive losses and was believed to be so financially strained that she touched customers’ valuables, did not appear to live that way when our magazine reporter visited her home.

“When FRIDAY Digital’s reporter visited Imamura’s residence, not only was the main house a stately single-family home, but the adjacent massive monthly parking lot also stood out. Combined with the residence, the land exceeds 260 tsubo (approx. 858 m²), and its asset value is said to be no less than 400 million yen.

Until her disciplinary dismissal last November, Imamura held the position of branch deputy manager of the sales department. Furthermore, the monthly rental income from the parking lot was estimated at around 300,000–400,000 yen, making her somewhat of a minor local property owner.

A nearby resident who rented a monthly parking space from Imamura said: ‘At the end of last month, when I went to pay the rent, Imamura herself attended to me. She seemed perfectly normal and energetic. It was like, “Looking forward to next year as well.” I believe she had no children, and it was just Imamura, her husband, and her father-in-law living together. Her father-in-law also used to work at a bank, so they built a respectable house in this area and also ran the parking lot. She gave the impression of coming from a wealthy family.’”

Another neighbor testified, “The couple seemed to get along well. They looked like a cheerful family.” However, when our reporter approached Yamazaki’s home with the lights on to ask about the family, pressing the intercom received no response at all.

From the eyes of neighbors, Yamazaki’s household appeared wealthy and happy, but some residents seemed to sense a foreshadowing of the incident.

“‘From around October last year, she suddenly disappeared from sight. Previously, she would leave the house at set times in the morning, probably for work. When I saw her after the New Year, she seemed conscious of being watched by others. She was going through the back gate instead of the front door, as if to hide. Until then, she was cheerful and would greet people, so I was really surprised by her arrest.’ (Another resident)”

At the time of her arrest, the charge was only for stealing gold bars worth 260 million yen. The total value of cash and valuables Yamazaki is believed to have stolen from over 60 people is said to exceed 1.7 billion yen, and full clarification of the case was still awaited.

“I didn’t want to be divorced.”

On October 16, the Tokyo District Court sentenced defendant Yamazaki to 9 years in prison (the prosecution had sought 12 years).

She was charged with stealing gold bars worth about 330 million yen and cash of about 60 million yen, among other items. The amount was significantly reduced from the initially reported 1.7 billion yen because it was difficult to prove how much was actually in the safe deposit boxes.

The trial revealed the loneliness that led Yamazaki to commit the crimes.

Previously, she had accumulated about 12 million yen in debt through FX trading and horse racing and filed for personal rehabilitation in court in 2013. With her husband’s cooperation, she repaid it in about three years, but she was made to sign a pledge stating, “If you gamble again, we will divorce.” Around 2017, she returned to FX trading, eventually accumulating a debt of about 1 billion yen, far exceeding her previous debts.

Yamazaki testified that she had a personal policy of never touching the bank’s money no matter how much debt I have. She began taking money from the safe deposit boxes because “I had touched my husband’s cash savings, and it was found and recovered, leaving me with no options.” Not wanting a divorce and having no one to consult about her debt, she said, “I think it was impulsive, maybe a sickness, but ultimately I ended up doing this.”

According to Yamazaki, including acts that were not prosecuted, she stole from about 100 people over four and a half years, totaling 1.7–1.8 billion yen. However, she eventually felt the limits of repeating her crimes. When she was informed that a customer had discovered missing funds, she submitted the keys and memos detailing the stolen amounts to the bank and confessed everything.

Judge Hironobu Ono explained the reason for the sentence: “The victims, who used the safe deposit boxes believing they were secure, bear no fault. This is an unusually malicious crime.” He further stated, “There is no consideration to be given for the fact that the crimes were committed impulsively to cover debts. The punishment should be commensurate with the crime.”

The defense for Yamazaki has appealed, expressing dissatisfaction with the verdict.