The Perfect Crime?
Almost 3 million yen (now $30,000) is what he drove off with. The mastermind of the most celebrated crime in Japan's postwar history, that is. And what's more, the statute of limitations was up on December 9, 1975--at midnight. Not only is he now immune to any criminal penalties (though he must give back the money if caught), but he has become somewhat of a hero.
Rolling through the outskirts of Tokyo on the morning of December 10, 1968, was a car with a driver, three guards, and nearly $30,000 in cash. The money car, from a nearby bank, was taking the cash to pay employees of an electrical manufacturing plant their year-end bonuses. Suddenly a man dressed like a policeman, and riding the typical white motorcycle, stopped them. There might be a bomb in or under the car, he warned them. While they scurried to safer quarters, smoke did really begin to pour from the car--from a canister he deftly planted. With the coast clear, the "policeman" jumped in the car and drove off. Taking the $30,000. He's never been found and neither has the money.
Seven years of intensive investigation has cost many times the amount of the loot. Some 171,520 man-days of police and detective manpower worked on tracking down clues that led nowhere. Police got 28,042 tips and they paid $30 reward for any that seemed worthwhile. They cleared 110,000 suspects.
Plenty of clues were left--the motorcycle and 2 getaway cars, all stolen, were found. The smoke canister and 3 footlockers that held the cash were abandoned. So were the gimmicks on the motorcycle to make it look like a police vehicle. There was even an eyewitness description that police used to reconstruct a picture for the public. He is the "best-known unknown" in Japan, one newspaper said.
Tremendous public interest surrounded this crime, right down to the midnight countdown of the statute of limitations. Young people actually hoped the robber wouldn't be caught. He used no weapons...nobody was killed or even hurt, they reasoned. Not only was his actual act bold and imaginative, but his continued evasion of the law has proven his wit. One newspaper chided police for mistakes in their investigation, but also scolded the public for the "hero" image accorded this criminal.
One thing this smart robber hasn't reckoned with, though: "Thou God seest me." And He sees you and me. We're clearly told that we'll all stand before God to give an account of the things we did down here. It's a wise person who starts getting acquainted now with the only Person Who can help us then: Jesus Christ.
Rolling through the outskirts of Tokyo on the morning of December 10, 1968, was a car with a driver, three guards, and nearly $30,000 in cash. The money car, from a nearby bank, was taking the cash to pay employees of an electrical manufacturing plant their year-end bonuses. Suddenly a man dressed like a policeman, and riding the typical white motorcycle, stopped them. There might be a bomb in or under the car, he warned them. While they scurried to safer quarters, smoke did really begin to pour from the car--from a canister he deftly planted. With the coast clear, the "policeman" jumped in the car and drove off. Taking the $30,000. He's never been found and neither has the money.
Seven years of intensive investigation has cost many times the amount of the loot. Some 171,520 man-days of police and detective manpower worked on tracking down clues that led nowhere. Police got 28,042 tips and they paid $30 reward for any that seemed worthwhile. They cleared 110,000 suspects.
Plenty of clues were left--the motorcycle and 2 getaway cars, all stolen, were found. The smoke canister and 3 footlockers that held the cash were abandoned. So were the gimmicks on the motorcycle to make it look like a police vehicle. There was even an eyewitness description that police used to reconstruct a picture for the public. He is the "best-known unknown" in Japan, one newspaper said.
Tremendous public interest surrounded this crime, right down to the midnight countdown of the statute of limitations. Young people actually hoped the robber wouldn't be caught. He used no weapons...nobody was killed or even hurt, they reasoned. Not only was his actual act bold and imaginative, but his continued evasion of the law has proven his wit. One newspaper chided police for mistakes in their investigation, but also scolded the public for the "hero" image accorded this criminal.
One thing this smart robber hasn't reckoned with, though: "Thou God seest me." And He sees you and me. We're clearly told that we'll all stand before God to give an account of the things we did down here. It's a wise person who starts getting acquainted now with the only Person Who can help us then: Jesus Christ.
posted by Lila @ 12:29 PM
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