Six Luxury Cars Worth ¥35 Million: Theft Suspect Reveals Shocking Scheme in Court, Says “I Learned It on YouTube”

“I’m exercising my right to remain silent” on his relationship with his accomplice

The trial of defendant Masaki Tachihara, 33 at the time of his arrest, who is charged with stealing luxury cars, was held at the Tokyo District Court on October 19. During questioning of the defendant that day, the existence of foreign brokers operating behind the scenes and the astonishing methods used in the thefts came to light.

“Tachihara conspired with Eisaku Koura, 34 at the time of his arrest, a member of a group under the Kōhei Ikka faction of the Sumiyoshi-kai, to steal a Toyota Alphard worth approximately ¥6 million from a parking lot in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, in January last year. Tachihara repeatedly committed thefts with various associates, working in pairs and changing partners each time. A series of incidents had occurred in which approximately 90 luxury vehicles, including Land Cruisers and Alphards, worth a total of ¥350 million, were stolen in and around Tokyo. Investigators were also looking into his possible involvement in other cases. At the time of their arrests, Koura denied the allegations, while Tachihara remained silent,” a source involved in the investigation said.

Tachihara appeared in court wearing a black tracksuit and silver-rimmed glasses. After admitting the charges, he began answering questions calmly, showing little sign of remorse.

Asked why he had admitted the charges despite remaining silent at the time of his arrest, he said:

“As time passed, I reflected on what I had done and decided to admit everything.”

During the investigation, because of the large number of suspected additional offenses, police had conducted nearly 50 on-site identification procedures, in which Tachihara was taken to the crime scenes. However, he partially denied involvement, saying, “I didn’t commit all of them.”

At the time of his arrest, police also seized 11 grams of cannabis from his home. He is additionally charged with violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Regarding his future, his older brother has offered to support his rehabilitation.

“I feel sorry for causing so much trouble. I’m grateful that my brother has offered to guide and supervise me.”

He expressed his gratitude before the defense lawyer’s questioning concluded. The prosecution, meanwhile, is taking a hard look at the organized nature of the crimes. When asked about his relationship with Koura, Tachihara clammed up, saying, “I’m exercising my right to remain silent.”

The charges in this case involve the theft of six vehicles, with total losses amounting to approximately ¥35 million. Asked where he intended to take the stolen cars, Tachihara revealed the existence of a foreign broker, saying, “I was going to take them to a foreigner who runs a car dealership and sell them.” He said the vehicles were traded for ¥100,000 to ¥200,000 each, and that “I kept all the money” he received.

The prosecution asked why he had not split the proceeds with Koura, given that the two had committed the crimes together. After a long silence, Tachihara stubbornly refused to answer:

“I don’t clearly remember whether Koura was involved. Since I don’t remember clearly, I’m exercising my right to remain silent.”

Asked which of them had proposed stealing the cars, he replied:

“I already had equipment for stealing cars, so it was my idea.”

He said the thefts were carried out using a specialized device called a “CAN Invader,” which illegally accesses a vehicle’s electronic systems to unlock its doors.

What is the luxury car theft system?

“CAN Invader” refers to a car theft method that exploits a vehicle communication system known as the Controller Area Network (CAN). CAN is an internal communications network that connects various electronic control units in a vehicle, including those for the engine, brakes, and door locks, allowing them to exchange information and coordinate operations. A “CAN Invader” is a system that illegally accesses the CAN communication lines to unlock a vehicle and start its engine.

“The perpetrators connect a specialized device to wiring harnesses behind the bumper or inside the fender and send signals to unlock the doors in as little as one to two minutes. Reports of this method began increasing in the 2000s. It has frequently been reported in thefts of luxury SUVs and minivans made by Toyota and Lexus. The existence of organized theft rings operating not only for domestic theft but also with overseas resale in mind had already been pointed out,” said a social affairs reporter for a national newspaper.

Asked how he obtained the CAN Invader device, Tachihara said:

“I got it from a foreigner named Joseph. A foreigner who runs a car dealership taught me how to use it, and I also learned from YouTube.”

While refusing to answer questions about defendant Koura, Tachihara spoke freely about the foreign nationals involved and the methods used in the thefts. He said he met Joseph through construction work, and that Joseph had approached him with the words, “I’ve got a good job for you.”

Asked, “Did you steal any cars other than the six in this case?” he replied, “Yes.” Although the prosecution focused on the organized nature of the crimes and questioned Tachihara about his connections to organized crime groups, he denied all such ties.

“Tachihara and his associates roamed the streets, targeting popular models such as the Alphard. To avoid detection, they changed their clothes and switched license plates. They also left the stolen vehicles in coin-operated parking lots for a certain period to check whether the police had received theft reports. However, the crimes came to light because GPS devices had been installed in the stolen cars,” said a judicial affairs reporter for a national newspaper.

The prosecution described the crimes as sophisticated and malicious, with evidence of meticulous planning and sought an eight-year prison sentence. The verdict is scheduled to be handed down on November 6.