SAITAMA, Jun 08, 2026 –
A 14-year-old junior highschool woman was arrested on suspicion of theft leading to damage after allegedly spraying a lady in her 60s within the face and stealing her pockets throughout a theft try in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture.
According to police, the woman informed investigators, “I wanted the money because I didn’t have any.”
The incident occurred at round 10:30 p.m. on June sixth beside the Tobu Skytree Line railway tracks in Kasukabe.
The sufferer, a lady in her 60s, was strolling alongside a highway when the woman approached from behind and tried to grab her shoulder bag. The girl resisted, prompting the suspect to spray a substance into her face.
During the following battle, a pockets containing roughly 40,000 yen in money fell from the bag. The woman allegedly grabbed the pockets and fled the scene.
The sufferer suffered accidents requiring about one week to heal after being sprayed within the face.
Security digicam footage recorded close to the scene shortly after the incident reportedly captured an individual believed to be the 14-year-old woman operating away, adopted moments later by an individual believed to be the sufferer chasing after her.
Police mentioned the woman was finally restrained and arrested by the sufferer roughly 150 meters from the scene of the crime.
The case has shocked native residents, many expressing disbelief {that a} junior highschool scholar could possibly be concerned in such a violent offense.
“It is surprising that a middle school student would do something like this, especially so close to home,” one resident mentioned. Another commented that whereas youngsters generally commit acts of misconduct out of peer strain or curiosity, “this incident feels different.”
Commenting on doable elements behind the crime, Yasushi Fujii, a professor at Meisei University, mentioned {that a} mixture of adolescent psychology and interactions on-line might doubtlessly affect younger individuals. Fujii instructed that publicity to discussions on the web, together with these involving generative AI, would possibly contribute to the refinement of felony plans and create a false perception that such acts are achievable.
Police are persevering with to analyze the circumstances that led to the theft.
Source: FNN