It is highly likely that a group of Chinese from Fujian Province was behind the Dec. 15 burglary of a Tokyo dentist in which seven guns were stolen, sources said Thursday.

According to sources close to the investigation headquarters at Kameari Police Station, a Chinese man arrested for allegedly attempting to break into the home of the late Zentaro Kosaka, a former foreign minister, on Dec. 1 is suspected of being a member of the group.

Investigators believe that at least 10 Chinese -- assisted by Japanese drivers and information gatherers -- split into several groups to burgle company offices and homes of the wealthy, the sources said.

One of these groups, comprising about five or six members, is believed to have broken into the home of a dentist in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward and made off with seven guns and ammunition, as well as some 3 million yen in cash.

A suspicious-looking car was seen near the residence on Nov. 30, and police said they believe members of the group were staking out the house ahead of the break-in.

In the case of the attempted break-in at the Kosaka residence, four Chinese from Fujian Province and one Japanese were arrested on the spot while preparing to burgle the home. They came prepared with handcuffs and tear gas, according to police.

Three others fled the scene and remain at large.

The sources said that part of the license plate number of the car spotted near the dentist's home and of the vehicle used in the attempted robbery of the Kosaka home are the same, leading police to believe the same group was behind both incidents.

The Japanese arrested in the Kosaka case was assigned to be the driver. He informed his Chinese colleagues that it was highly likely that no one would be home because it was the day of Kosaka's funeral, the sources said.