SAITAMA (Kyodo) Police have launched a manhunt for three men who apparently made off with ¥180,000 early Friday during a Saitama gas station armed robbery.
Police have released a tape of the robbery, which was captured by a security camera at the gas station, to the media.
At around 4 a.m., two men stormed into the unmanned self-service gas station and one pointed a gun at a security guard who happened to be there on a round watch, police said.
While the guard was held at gunpoint, the other man broke into a cash box installed at a self-service pump, stealing some ¥180,000 inside.
The men fled with the aid of a waiting driver in a silver station wagon, police said.
Investigators said the two appeared to be in their early to mid-20s, and wore black ski masks and white gloves. One held what appeared to be a gun, while the other used a steel bar to pry open the box.
Police said robberies tend to spike during the yearend holidays.
