Former Sumo Wrestler Accused of Shoplifting Digestive Aids at a Drugstore—Was He the Ringleader!? The Reality of “Underground Shoplifting Jobs” with 50 Million Yen in Losses

Total damages amount to 50 million yen!?

Around 8:50 a.m. on October 2. A car pulled out of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Wangan Police Station. A former sumo wrestler sitting in the back seat with a sullen expression looked around nervously, perhaps startled by the gathered press. Then, for some reason, he suddenly broke into a broad, satisfied smile—.

On September 30, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Third Investigative Division arrested Tomoya Taguchi (34), an unemployed man from Yokohama, on suspicion of theft.He is suspected of shoplifting nine items of intestinal medication (retail value approximately 48,800 yen) from a drugstore in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, last November by placing them in his own tote bag inside the store and then walking out without paying.

“In April of this year, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested two men in their 30s on suspicion of theft in connection with a separate shoplifting incident at a drugstore in Chiba Prefecture. Suspect Taguchi emerged as a suspect based on the statements of those men and other evidence.Police believe Taguchi is the mastermind behind “Tokuryu” (an anonymous, fluid criminal group) that repeatedly targets drugstores for theft. However, as seen in the case leading to his arrest this time, it appears Taguchi sometimes acted as the perpetrator himself.

He would post messages on social media offering “high hourly wages” to recruit operatives, and people who saw these posts and applied would join the group.Suspect Taguchi reportedly instructed members on which items to shoplift and the dates and times of the thefts, paying them based on the retail price of the stolen goods. It is believed he sold the stolen goods to an unknown buyer. Regarding the investigation, he has reportedly stated, “I will speak after consulting with my lawyer.” (Social Affairs Reporter, National Newspaper)

Taguchi was formerly a professional sumo wrestler. Under the ring name “Taguchi,” his highest rank was Sandanme. He retired in 2013.Based on the analysis of cell phones and other evidence, police are investigating the case on the assumption that Taguchi and his group—consisting of more than a dozen people—were involved in the theft of approximately 40 items, including cosmetics (with a total retail value of about 14 million yen), from drugstores across the country between June of last year and April of this year.

A crime reporter pointed out , “The same kind of scheme seen in ‘underground part-time jobs’—which have caused problems in connection with fraud and robbery—is now spreading to shoplifting.”

“Drugstores were targeted because medicines and cosmetics are relatively small and easy to carry, yet have a high unit price. Furthermore, there is a steady demand for them, making them easy to resell. Stealing large quantities in a short time allows for efficient conversion into cash.”
The police have announced that they are investigating a connection to thefts totaling 14 million yen between June of last year and April of this year, but it has since been reported that the total amount of related losses has reached 50 million yen.

Even shoplifting incidents involving tens of thousands of yen, if repeated multiple times in various locations, can ultimately amount to crimes on the scale of tens of millions of yen. Moreover, they can continue committing these crimes by constantly rotating the perpetrators via social media. This type of theft—characterized by ‘small amounts, numerous incidents, and a wide geographic scope’—can truly be described as a criminal pattern that capitalizes on the characteristics of anonymous, fluid criminal groups.”

Suspect Taguchi, who was arrested in this case, is said to have been the ringleader, but there is also the possibility that someone else was giving him instructions. Is it even possible to stop these “Tokuryu-style” crimes, which continue to diversify and expand?

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