Photo/Illutration Police officers search a residential area in Yokohama’s Aoba Ward on Oct. 16 after a 75-year-old man was found dead in his home. (Naoko Kawamura)

A series of robberies involving people hired for “yami baito” (dark part-time jobs), or under-the-table gig work, have occurred recently mostly in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

These crimes have involved breaking into homes and committing violent acts.

The serial robberies have inevitably aroused much anxiety among citizens. Law enforcement agencies must quickly identify the orchestrators and expedite the investigation to uncover the full extent of these operations.

At the same time, it is crucial to consider measures to prevent young people from taking such unlawful underground jobs.

Most of the suspects who have so far been arrested as the perpetrators are men in their 20s, lured by high rewards to apply for these dark jobs and participate in criminal activities.

This month, an elderly man was bound and killed at his home in Yokohama.

A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of his involvement in the murder-robbery case has said he responded to a post on social media recruiting for what was falsely described as a “white gig,” or a legal job.

Although he realized it was a dark part-time job midway, he couldn't refuse due to the control of his personal information and the potential harm to his family, according to the suspect.

The consequences of taking a human life are grave. If he committed the act, he must face legal judgment and confront the depth of his sin for life.

What actions can be taken to prevent new offenders from arising?

The Tokyo metropolitan government operates a special website to warn people about such illegal part-time work.

The website cites instances where help-wanted ads for such jobs deceive potential applicants by claiming “work for a listed company” or “government-approved work” or by posing as ordinary job ads without touting high pay, offering, for instance, about 10,000 yen ($65) per day.

There have been cases where unsuspecting applicants for such deceptive job offers later got involved in crimes and were arrested.

Authorities warn people against responding to recruiters who show the slightest sign of suspicious behavior, such as contacting them via a highly confidential messaging application or demanding unnecessary family information.

If you realize something is wrong halfway, you should have the courage to turn back. In the event you or your family are threatened, the National Police Agency calls for seeking a consultation.

Experts say that young people who do not have sufficient social experience and live a life centered around smartphone-based relationships tend to fail to develop the ability to discern danger.

To increase young people’s awareness of the dangers, Shingo Shiota, an associate professor at Shizuoka University and expert in educational technology, working in collaboration with Shizuoka prefectural police, has created educational materials.

These include a checklist asking respondents when they feel it might be OK to knowingly take on a dark job. When this material was used in a high school class, many students answered they might take such a job when it involves helping people in trouble, such as “delivering a package to help someone.”

Shiota explains the objectives of the materials: "Not just introducing past cases but also encouraging people to simulate how they would act by imagining themselves getting involved in specific cases can help them perceive the problem as their own.”

To help students understand the importance of refusing dubious job offers and seeking help when they are at risk, the class also encourages them to discuss whom to consult when they find themselves in dangerous situations.

It is crucial for society as a whole to develop preventive measures through various initiatives.

Citizens must also take measures to protect themselves from crimes. They must remain wary of suspicious visitors and, as a routine measure, consider adding multiple locks to their entrance doors and windows.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 24

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