Three men arrested for robbing drunken salarymen in Tokyo

Sunday 22nd March, 06:52 AM JST

TOKYO —

Three men have been arrested for attacking and stealing the wallet of an inebriated salaryman who was on his way home in Tokyo. Police believe the young men have repeatedly committed similar offenses, targeting salarymen under the influence of alcohol.

Arrested for suspicion of robbery were Tatsuya Ikeda, 20, an unemployed man from Adachi Ward, along with two 19-year-old men. On Jan 31 at around 4:30 a.m., the three suspects allegedly assaulted a 45 year-old man on his way home in Katsushika Ward. The man told police the trio threatened him by saying: “Give us your money! What’s more important, that or your life?”

The three took the man’s wallet containing 124,000 yen. Days later, the victim saw one of the young men near the scene of the crime and tailed him, eventually leading to his arrest. According to police, Ikeda and the other two suspects repeatedly targeted and attacked drunken salarymen. As one suspect admitted during an investigation, “Drunkards just look like trouble, so it’s easy to get away.”

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 29 Total Comments Show All

BBLeo at 01:22 PM JST - 22nd March

...believe the young men have repeatedly committed... This time they need severe punishment otherwise they will develop themselves into killers. Judiciary should prescribe reform sentence. 'YOUNG MEN WILL BECOME BIG MAN.'
jeancolmar at 01:34 PM JST - 22nd March

Well, friends, Japan is not such a safe place after all. Oaji gari stories are indeed nothing knew. The late and lamented Wai Wai column had stories about it. You don't have to be drunk to get rolled. I recall reports about salarymen getting attacked when going to work early in the morning.
likeitis at 02:26 PM JST - 22nd March

Well, friends, Japan is not such a safe place after all.

Uh, no. Japan is just not perfect, and that seems to be what you are shooting for. If you feel that Japan is not safe, then nowhere is, not even a cave 100 feet underground with 10 food thick concrete walls lined with lead, because the grim reaper will still find you eventually.

Anyway, notice that the guy was robbed and threatened, but not beaten and killed.

And good on this guy for having the guts and wits to non-violently solve the case all by his darn self.
likeitis at 02:32 PM JST - 22nd March

IvanCoughalot at 11:18 AM JST - 22nd March: Brilliant - the victim found the criminals hanging around the scene of the crime. Once again, such a leap of deductive logic proves elusive to the Keystones.

Lets talk logic Ivan. Let us suppose the cops were hanging around that area on the hunt for the suspects. Do they have an electronic mugger detector that helps them spot anyone who has mugged someone in the last 3 days? Or perhaps the victims description of the perps as being male and dark haired with brown eyes and Asian looking was supposed to be a big tip-off? I think you might be expecting a bit much from the cops. In fact, I think was you expect is beyond reason, reason being another word for logic.

The victim knew the faces of his robbers. And being in his mind only, it was available for download into the minds of the police. Only the victim could wander the scene and spot any one of the three. And that he did. The logic award goes to him.
Mz at 02:33 PM JST - 22nd March

It's only in recent years in Japan that one has been able to use an ATM outside banking hours - some people probably still have the habit of carryng large sums of cash. Glad the perps were caught.
SimondB at 02:39 PM JST - 22nd March

Ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ｖｉｅｗ　Japan remains a safe country in comparison to the rest off the world. God knows I stumbled home enough times without problems. Jean Colmar, normally enjoy your posts but have to wonder how much credence to hang on a story that salarymen get attacked going to work. Never heard of that my friend.
our asssailants are well away.

Advice to anyone getting mugged or lined up for robbery: Walk into the road hands up to stop the traffic. Traffic scrreches to a halt (you hope) horns blasting, people looking, your asssailants are well away. Other than that slam the palm of your hand into the base of their nose (you can even do this when drunk). Or, step back and plead like a coward and that you do not want trouble. The assailant will inevitably get cocky and spread himself wide in an aggaresive position - like an ape. Then give him the mightiest kick in the balls you can. Not many men are up for much after that. My uncle Arthur taught me that when I was about eight years old and I have to say that it has seen me out of a good few sticky situations.
WMD at 04:57 PM JST - 22nd March

Simon How long have you been here mate?? I well remember stories several years about early morning salarymen types being attacked for their cash. Let's all learn effective self defence techniques.
jeancolmar at 05:21 PM JST - 22nd March

Unfortunately, you have to be on guard in Japan as you would be anywhere else. If you are going to get drunk in a bar (which is acceptable here in Japan) then make sure you are witgh a lot of your friends. Make it a point of having someone sober meeting you at a strategic point later. At all times try not to be alone. These are simple universal precautions.

With the current recession on top of the lingering recession from the 1990s, Japan isn't the easygoing place it used to be. In the old days you could hook up with a friendly stranger, get totally smashed together in some smoke-filled dive and feel perfectly safe. Alas, no more.
bdiego at 03:24 AM JST - 23rd March

jeancolmar what planet do you live on? Now you're actually implying that getting drunk in a bar isn't acceptable in other countries. What's with your other Captain Obvious points? You just came here to troll didn't you?
limosine at 05:07 AM JST - 23rd March

I regularly carried around that much, as I had to pay my rent in cash sometimes with was 120,000. Unlucky I guess.
Disillusioned at 07:44 AM JST - 23rd March

I regularly carried around that much, as I had to pay my rent in cash sometimes with was 120,000. Unlucky I guess.

But, did you go out on the booze with that much cash in your pocket?

There is no way these punks were lucky enough to strike a salary man with that sort of cash on him. They had to have stalked him. They probably saw him buy something at a combini or they may have even stalked him from the bar.
bushlover at 11:22 AM JST - 23rd March

I bet if he had challenged them the first time he'd still have his money and they'd be home changing their undies.
tranel at 11:50 AM JST - 23rd March

"Three men have been arrested for attacking and stealing the wallet of an inebriated salaryman who was on his way home in Tokyo."

What really caught me with this article was that the attackers had the temerity to attack the wallet before they stole it—double the insult. What's next?
dennis0bauer at 03:20 PM JST - 23rd March

I have wandered around drunk before in Japan, but then you can spot or hear a drunken salary man from a mile away, Or they just lay passed out somewhere on the ground.

WMD Self defence techniques do not work if you are still drunk from the night before
likeitis at 03:28 PM JST - 23rd March

WMD Self defence techniques do not work if you are still drunk from the night before

They do if you study Drunken Monkey Style. Then they will be defeated excellently!