Tokyo police have arrested a 21-year-old security inspector at Haneda Airport on suspicion of theft after he allegedly stole cash from a passenger during a baggage inspection.
The suspect, Ryu Matsumoto of Tokyo’s Ota Ward, has admitted to the charges, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
“I wanted to experience the thrill of stealing cash. The job was tough, and I was thinking about quitting. I thought I could use the money to help cover my living expenses,” he reportedly told investigators.
According to police, Matsumoto started working in April for a Tokyo-based security company. Under contract with Japan Airlines, he was responsible for guiding passengers through baggage inspections at security checkpoints.
Police believe he stole a total of approximately ¥1.5 million ($10,157) from 70 to 80 passengers since around August.
The specific incident that led to his arrest occurred on Saturday at approximately 6:25 p.m. at the security checkpoint of the airport's Terminal 1.
While a male passenger momentarily looked away, Matsumoto allegedly pretended to adjust the man’s baggage and stole ¥90,000 in cash that had been placed in a tray for screening.
Matsumoto is suspected of putting the cash into his chest pocket and moving to a restroom stall in the airport, where he hid the money inside the core of a toilet paper roll.
The incident came to light when the male passenger, after completing a body check, noticed his money was no longer in the tray. Surveillance footage led authorities to identify Matsumoto as a suspect.
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