"Secretly Following Women to Steal Masks and Escape"... New Types of Crimes Occur One After Another in Japan

Series of Crimes Involving Women’s Masks Stolen and Fleeing
Netizens Suspect Perpetrator with Abnormal Sexual Desire
Man Who Stole Women’s Shoes Also Arrested Last April

Crimes involving women’s masks being stolen and the perpetrators fleeing are occurring repeatedly in the bustling district of Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. Video by Asahi TV, Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Crimes involving thieves stealing only women's masks and fleeing have been occurring repeatedly in Japan.

According to a report by Japan's Asahi TV on the 26th, thieves targeting women's masks have been appearing one after another in the Kyushu area of Japan. The suspect appeared in the underground shopping mall in Tenjin, the largest downtown area in Fukuoka.

The suspect's criminal acts were captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV), but according to the police, the suspect has not yet been apprehended.

A suspect stealing masks from women and running away. Photo by Asahi TV Japan

According to the released footage, the suspect is estimated to be a man in his 20s, about 170 cm tall. After selecting his target, he followed the victim from behind and quickly grabbed and cut the strap of the woman's mask, then stole the mask and fled.

Netizens who heard the news speculate that the suspect might be a sexual deviant. They claim that, similar to stealing women's underwear or shoes, he steals women's masks, keeps them, and derives pleasure from them.

Suspect in women's shoe theft, Katsu Hiroaki (left), and the women's shoes he stole (right) Photo by Nippon News Network (NNN) video capture

Meanwhile, in Japan, a man who targeted and stole only women's shoes was caught in April of this year. The suspect, who was investigated for stealing more than 20 pairs of women's boots, flats, and loafers, confessed that his motive was "I wanted to smell women's shoes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.