In a significant incident that unfolded in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, last week, a theft involving a luxury Swiss watch took place at “Nakano BROADWAY,” a well-known commercial facility. On November 1, this case took an unexpected turn when the store received a parcel containing not only the stolen watch valued at 46 million yen (approximately $291,000) but also a handwritten note expressing an apology.
According to reports from Kyodo News, the stolen item was an Audemars Piguet wristwatch, recognized as one of the premier luxury brands from Switzerland. The crime occurred around 7:45 PM on October 29, when a man entered the watch store posing as a customer. He expressed interest in trying on a watch, and once it was secured on his left wrist, he fled the scene.
The suspect stayed in the store for about eight minutes before making his escape. As reported on November 2, investigators found that the stolen watch had been returned to the store via express delivery. The identification number on the watch matched the one reported stolen. It was discovered that the parcel had been sent from Aichi Prefecture and included a note filled with apologies. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police suspect that the sender is the thief, and they are currently investigating the whereabouts of the fugitive man. However, the exact contents of the apology note remain unclear.
According to the authorities, the stolen wristwatch arrived at the store on the morning of November 1 without any visible damage. The package was labeled with the sender’s name, though police believe it could potentially be a pseudonym and are conducting a thorough investigation.
This incident marks the second watch theft that has occurred at Nakano BROADWAY in recent months. In August this year, another store within the shopping center was targeted in a robbery where a display case near the entrance was smashed with a hammer. Four luxury watches were stolen during that incident, with a total value estimated at 200 million yen (about $1.3 million). Following this robbery, two men from Chile were arrested and subsequently charged.
A spokesperson from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police stated that one of the arrested suspects, a 33-year-old man, confessed, saying he originally intended to sell the watches for cash and then return to his home country. The other individual, aged 23, partially denied the accusations, claiming he only stole one watch. The older suspect mentioned that three of the stolen watches fell during his escape.
This series of events highlights the ongoing challenges related to security in retail environments, particularly in areas known for high-value merchandise. The authorities are determined to enhance surveillance and preventive measures in response to these incidents to ensure the safety of both businesses and consumers residing in the community.