Society

Gang member arrested for stealing safe from izakaya

Jul 18 (Japan Today) - Police in Tokyo have arrested a 23-year-old member of a yakuza gang on suspicion of stealing a safe from an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in May.

According to police, Yoichi Kawasaki, who belongs to the Yamaguchi-gumi, entered the izakaya through an unlocked window after it had closed early due to coronavirus restrictions on hours of business, Fuji TV reported. The pub is on the second floor of a building in Ota Ward.

Police said Kawasaki carried the safe, which weighs 20 kilograms and contained about 200,000 yen in cash, and left through the window.

Police said Kawasaki was identified after an analysis of street surveillance camera footage. They said he has remained quiet and also suspect he may be responsible for other similar robberies in the area.

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