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Suspected Mastermind Behind Apartment Robbery in Tokyo Arrested

Written by Hanae

Edited by Harith Syafiee


The offenders disguised as messengers from Yamato Transport to carry out the crime | Source: Ti-Insight


TOKYO, 20th September 2024: A 20-year-old man, believed to be the mastermind behind the robbery of a man in a Tokyo high-rise apartment in January, has finally been arrested.


According to Sankei Shimbun, police reported that Tomokiya Yoneshige, whose profession is still unknown, had not spoken since his detention. 


The robbery occurred in Shinjuku Ward on January 14, at about 7 p.m. Claiming to be messengers from Yamato Transport, two men buzzed the man's apartment in his fifties while carrying a cardboard box. 


The two men then broke into the apartment once he opened the door, sliced his right hand with a knife, and proceeded to steal four expensive watches—including a Rolex—as well as other valuables estimated at 4.18 million yen.


Tomokiya was reportedly using the app Signal to instruct the two offenders to “beat the man and take his cash" and "stab him in so many places that he will die.”


The man suffered minor cuts on his fingers but managed to escape to his balcony, where he called out for help.


Four 19-year-old men and women have already been arrested; two of whom were involved in the Shinjuku robbery as reported by the police. The four of them were also believed to be members of the same gang that committed a similar crime in Shinagawa Ward four days prior, based on police reports. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department reported that Yoneshige was suspected to be the gang’s mastermind, and giving the instructions for both robberies in a car.—TBC


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