TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 49-year-old former plumber for allegedly stealing metallic flush valves from public park bathrooms to promote as scrap metallic, studies TBS News (Apr. 10).
Hisakazu Oba, at the moment unemployed, was caught red-handed on April 8 after swiping 4 flush valves — valued at roughly 100,000 yen — from two restrooms at a park in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, investigators on excessive alert noticed Oba rising from a public rest room with an unnaturally bulging backpack. A subsequent search of his bag revealed the stolen brass parts.
Upon his arrest, Oba totally admitted to the allegations. “They are easy to remove and sell for a high price,” the suspect informed police. “Since last September, I’ve done this about 70 to 80 times. I used [the money] to place boat racing bets”
Investigators revealed that Oba had labored as a plumber for over 20 years earlier than shedding his job final June. He is believed to have utilized his specialised information to rapidly dismantle the plumbing fixtures, exchanging the metallic elements for fast money at scrap sellers.
Damages
The arrest comes amid a baffling wave of bathroom vandalism throughout the metropolitan space. On April 9, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported that 22 flush valves had vanished from 9 metropolitan parks — together with Koganei and Toneri parks — over a two-week interval in March alone.
Through evaluation of safety digital camera footage and interviews with metallic recycling outlets, Oba turned a suspect.
The brazen thefts have value the town roughly 1.2 million yen in damages.
Police at the moment are investigating Oba’s connection to the widespread string of comparable thefts which have plagued public parks throughout Tokyo and Saitama since final December.