Photo/Illutration An investigator checks cash that appears to have been left by burglars in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward on Dec. 5. (Provided by a witness)

A group behind a violent burglary in the capital was likely involved in similar cases in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures, as well as planning for a deadly robbery in Tokyo’s Komae city, investigative sources said.

The Metropolitan Police Department on Jan. 21 arrested Rikuto Nagata, 21, on suspicion of committing burglary and assault at a three-story house in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward last month.

Nagata, a resident of Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, has denied involvement in the Nakano case, according to the sources.

Police, however, suspect Nagata was part of a group that broke into the house in the ward on Dec. 5, beat a male resident there and stole about 30 million yen ($231,325) in cash.

According to the sources, police believe the same group committed burglaries in Inagi, western Tokyo, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and in the city of Hiroshima during the period from October to December 2022.

These cases were similar to the Nakano burglary, given that multiple perpetrators were involved and the assaults on the residents were vicious and merciless, the sources said.

In the Inagi case, a resident was injured when the gang stole two safes and jewelry, while a Japanese sword was taken in the Iwakuni burglary.

In Hiroshima, cash was stolen, and a resident of the home was assaulted and remains unconscious and in critical condition.

Police have already obtained evidence that connects Nagata and others to suspected plans to rob a house in Komae, the sources said.

Police arrested Nagata in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward on Jan. 21 after receiving a call about a “suspicious rental car.”

Police found Nagata near the car, which contained a cellphone.

An analysis of the phone found messages that mentioned “Komae city” and other information on Jan. 18, the day before the robbery in which Kinuyo Oshio, 90, was found bound, beaten and dead at her house.

Police believe the messages were exchanged to organize those involved in the Komae burglary-murder case.

One message called for participation, and another message said, “I’m in,” according to the sources.

There were no messages found on the phone after the Komae crime concerning details of what had transpired, the sources said.

Nagata has admitted that he rented the car, but the cellphone found “is not mine,” the sources said.

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