Two elderly men arrested for robbing supermarket in Sapporo

Wednesday 03rd December, 09:49 AM JST

SAPPORO —

Two elderly men were arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of robbery resulting in injury, after the manager of a supermarket in Kita Ward of Sapporo City was shot and his premises robbed of more than 300,000 yen late Monday night.

Akinori Kawamura, 55, a used goods recycler, and Masanori Hanakawa, 66, unemployed, are suspected of forcing their way into the supermarket after it closed, shooting the manager with a gun and fleeing in a car.

Police said the pair admit to the charge. They were quoted as saying they wanted money to get by and to enjoy a few other things. Police found a modified handgun, four iron bullets, and a large number of fireworks in Kawamura’s home. According to police, Kawamura said he put the gun together and made the bullets himself.

Kawamura also admitted to his involvement in the robbery of two convenience stores in Kiyota Ward and Higashi Ward in late November.

Wire reports

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14 Comments

Altria at 10:05 AM JST - 3rd December

"Hand over all your suppositories!"
Disillusioned at 10:29 AM JST - 3rd December

The geriatric crime wave continues!
pointofview at 11:01 AM JST - 3rd December

Wow! all that for 300,000 yen? strange...
TabbyR at 11:18 AM JST - 3rd December

Times are desperate and with holidays coming up, this doesn't surprise me. But still, all the time making the bullets and modifying the gun could have gone to putting in a few resumes.
moonbeams at 01:45 PM JST - 3rd December

55 is elderly????
ninjaboy at 01:59 PM JST - 3rd December

Sounds like a Japanese version of "Tough Guys" (1986) with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster.
romulus3 at 02:17 PM JST - 3rd December

scary, they can come at you from anywhere in Japan.
Nessie at 03:17 PM JST - 3rd December

So...what was the injury?

I heard that it was an air gun. All fun and games...
bdiego at 04:46 PM JST - 3rd December

Wow he made his own gun! That would be like a ganster building their own car for a driveby shooting. If you have those skills, why not get a job?
BBLeo at 05:39 PM JST - 3rd December

Were both accused watching 'James Bond' lately? It is good that he could make his own bullets, why didn't he approach 'defence department' and contract himself with them for supply. They could both become very rich. However, I can see very clearly that 'supermarkets' are not concerned about security, instead counting their takings of the day.
Nessie at 06:02 PM JST - 3rd December

Wow he made his own gun! That would be like a ganster building their own car for a driveby shooting. If you have those skills, why not get a job?

They modified an air gun. Making bullets was easy because they didn't need gunpowder, just a lump of metal.
Orchid64 at 06:41 PM JST - 3rd December

Guns are not entirely illegal in Japan. Hunting guns are legal. Most people don't have them, but it is possible to get them. These guys made their own, but it wouldn't be surprising to see future crimes committed with guns in Japan as the number of poor people increases and people become desperate and social order breaks down more and more.
kawabunga at 10:38 PM JST - 3rd December

was that number #5 on their bucket list? wonder if the completed the other four.....
usaexpat at 12:25 AM JST - 4th December

If you read the story about oldsters working past retirement I guess these guys are doing the same thing.