Colombian woman suspected in dozens of burglaries in Kanto

tokyoreporter.com -- Jul 21

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a Colombian woman who is suspected in dozens of burglaries in the Kanto area, reports NHK (July 21).

According to police, Amanda Lucia Perez, 41, is a member of a burglary ring. On January 25, she allegedly worked with three accomplices to break into a residence in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture and steal 310,000 yen in cash and 34 items — valued at a total of 840,000 yen — including rings.

Upon her arrest, Perez denied the allegations. “I didn’t go to the [crime] scene. I just rented a car. I also sold the jewelry [for cash],” she said. The three accomplices, at least one of whom is also Colombian, have been prosecuted in the case.

Police said that Perez came to Japan to participate in the ring. As she alluded to in denying the allegations, her primary function was to provide members of the ring with vehicles, mobile telephones and accommodations.

Police believe Perez was involved in 50 break-ins in Tokyo and four prefectures between last August and February in which the value of lost property totaled more than 43 million yen. All told, police have arrested nine persons as a part of the investigation.

Jul 21 (ANNnewsCH) - 埼玉県の住宅に侵入し、現金や貴金属を盗んだとしてコロンビア人の女が逮捕されました。女はコロンビアから入国する窃盗団を手引きする元締め役だったということです。  アマンダ・ルシア容疑者(41)は1月、仲間と共謀して埼玉県越谷市の住宅に侵入し、現金31万円や指輪など84万円相当を盗んだ疑いが持たれています。警視庁によりますと、アマンダ容疑者は入国するコロンビア人らの窃盗グループを手引きして盗みに入る地域を指示するなどしていました。アマンダ容疑者は「現場には行っていない。車を貸したり宝石を処分しただけだ」と容疑を否認しています。このグループでは実行役の男ら9人がすでに逮捕・起訴されています。都内などではグループの犯行とみられる約50件、4300万円の被害があり、警視庁が余罪を調べています。