Bag with Y1 million snatched from woman 50 meters from Osaka police station

Monday 23rd February, 09:57 AM JST

OSAKA —

A bag containing 1 million yen was snatched from a 62-year-old woman by two men on the street in Osaka on Sunday night, police said Monday. The incident happened about 50 meters from a local police station.

According to police, one man suddenly snatched the bag while the woman was waiting on the sidewalk for the lights to change at around 10:40 p.m. The suspect got into a car which another man was driving. The victim told police the two men were in their 30s and wore blue clothes.

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Disillusioned at 11:25 AM JST - 23rd February

And, a 62y/o lady was carrying ￥1m because........?
Sarge at 11:43 AM JST - 23rd February

"50 meters from Osaka police station"

This never would have happened if she'd been 50 meters from the koban in my neighborhood. That koban has a dog who sees and hears EVERYTHING within 100 meters.
Mz at 12:08 PM JST - 23rd February

"50m from a police station" - so? If she was waiting to cross then the lights would have been green (or blue, whatever) for cars. It would take no more than a couple of seconds for the car to slow, perp to grab her bag and go. So no time for cops to react.
Samuraiiki at 12:16 PM JST - 23rd February

Inside job from one of the bank employees notifying his cronies?
saborichan at 12:28 PM JST - 23rd February

If they had a car ready, the proximity of the koban is really a non-issue. With enough traffic, you'd be hard pressed to get your car on the road quickly, let alone catch someone.
nutsagain at 02:00 PM JST - 23rd February

The suspects were wearing blue clothes...? Near a koban? The cops!!
TokyoGas at 02:58 PM JST - 23rd February

Like another poster said. This must have been an inside job.
Yelnats at 03:13 PM JST - 23rd February

Pachinko money being moved from one safe to another to avoid taxes.
kavikahi at 06:25 PM JST - 23rd February

The blues bros will be paying their dues.
Kokubuspider at 06:37 PM JST - 23rd February

Yeah, inside job. Far too easy.
BBLeo at 06:50 PM JST - 23rd February

Snatchers must be aware that money was again like self service in the street. People never learn how to look after the money. 'I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS AN INSIDE JOB.' Is this money covered by insurance???
meguro at 07:20 PM JST - 23rd February

this must be inside job .. mhmm ?
Moondog at 08:41 PM JST - 23rd February

Why does everyone think this was an inside job? One million yen is not that huge an amount of money. Japan is still, after all, still largely a 'cash' society.

About 25 years ago, I was in line at an ATM (back in the days when you just choose the shortest line and stood right behind the person at the machine) and a little old lady--about 125 cm tall and maybe 75 years old--withdrew the max twice, Y4,000,000 in total while I looked over her shoulder. Now, I'm not a thief by nature but I be lying if I said the idea of following her home never crossed my mind. (But I didn't, thank you!)

It could have been a similar case in this theft. Or, perhaps she was carrying home the cash receipts from a store. Y1,000,000 would not be an unusual sum from many stores.

The incident 25 years ago was on my own mind about 10 years later when due to an unexpected turn of events, I was unable to get to the bank during the day and, as a result, I found myself at the Citibank ATM in Kobe at about 2:00 AM withdrawing Y2,000,000 in cash to be handed over as key money on a house the next morning. Anyone who has been to the Kobe Citibank ATM will know that it's a very lonely place at night.

I'm not as foolish as the woman I observed taking Y4,000,000 out, however. I first took out Y10,000 as a decoy and then took the big money out and immediately slipped it into my shirt.

As it turns out, no one jumped out of the bushes but it pays to be careful. My guess is that this woman simply wasn't. :-)

Moondog
telecasterplayer at 08:44 AM JST - 24th February

Bag with Y1 million snatched from woman 50 meters from Osaka police station

The victim told police the two men were in their 30s and wore blue clothes.

uhh.. what color do Japanese Police wear?
Spidey at 09:03 AM JST - 24th February

Me thinks the sly little old lady added an extra couple of zeros just for good measure. I would.

S