Crime11 June, 20262 min read
Two Men Rob Chinese Woman Near Ikebukuro Station, Steal 8 Million Yen
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Chinese woman in her 60s injured near Ikebukuro Station during robbery. Approximately 8 million yen stolen; two suspects at large.
Ikebukuro robbery injures woman
A 60-year-old Chinese woman was injured in a robbery near Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo on Wednesday night, after two men sprayed her with a substance believed to be pepper spray, struck her on the back of the head, and stole her backpack containing cash. Police said the incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. in a busy commercial district near the station, and Tokyo police were continuing their investigation and searching for the two suspects.
Another report said the suspects snatched a bag containing about 8 million yen ($50,000) in cash from the woman in her 60s near Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward on Wednesday night. Kyodo News said the woman sustained minor head injuries, and police were searching for the suspects who fled the scene on suspicion of robbery and assault.
Suspects at large
Police said a witness made an emergency call at around 8:30 p.m., reporting the robbery near Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward. According to police, the two suspects allegedly sprayed the woman and hit her on the head with their bare hands before stealing the bag, and the robbery happened in an area where restaurants and shops are located.
Global Times said the victim told police that two individuals believed to be men robbed her shoulder bag, and that the bag contained about 8 million yen in cash. Global Times also reported that when it reached the Ikebukuro Police Station, a staff member initially said the deputy chief responsible for the case was occupied and asked the reporter to leave contact information for a later response.
Investigation and missing cash
Police are investigating the case as robbery and assault and are searching for the two suspects who fled the scene after the woman was injured near Ikebukuro Station. One account described the substance used as pepper spray, while another said the suspects sprayed the woman with an unidentified substance before striking her in the head and forcibly taking her bag.
The reports place the incident in a commercial district near JR Ikebukuro Station, described as one of Tokyo's busiest entertainment and shopping hubs. The victim’s injuries were described as minor head injuries, and the stolen amount was described as about 8 million yen ($50,000) in cash in the Kyodo News account.