Theft of batteries used in electrically assisted bicycles has been occurring one after another in Tokyo. As of last month, there were 207 cases of damage, almost double the number at the same time last year, and the Metropolitan Police Department is calling for caution.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, there have been a series of cases of theft of electrically assisted bicycle batteries in various parts of Tokyo, and about 1 to 18 cases have been confirmed every month, including 2 cases in January, 39 cases in February, and 3 cases in March, and the number of cases has increased sharply to 30 last month.

In the six months to last month, there were a total of 207 cases of damage, almost double the number at the same time last year and the most serious pace in the past five years.

By region, damage is concentrated in specific areas, such as 2 cases in Edogawa Ward, 5 cases in Toshima Ward, and 44 cases in Koto Ward.

Since the beginning of this month, damage has continued to increase, mainly in Kita Ward and Edogawa Ward, and at least 2 cases of damage have been confirmed in the two weeks until the middle of the month.

According to an analysis by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, batteries that were not locked are often stolen in detached houses, while bicycle parking lots in apartment complexes with four floors or more are broken and stolen with something like a tool even if they are locked.

Captured on a security camera

In the wake of a spate of battery thefts, the Metropolitan Police Department is on high alert.

This is a security camera video of an apartment complex in Edogawa Ward.

At about 18:2 a.m. on the 40th of last month, a person wearing a helmet looked around, approached the bike, and reached around the battery.

A few seconds later, with what looked like a black box in hand, I walked in the direction of the motorcycle I was riding.

According to residents, about 4 batteries were stolen from four bicycle parking lots in the apartment complex on the same day.

Did you steal and then sell it?

This month, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested a 1-year-old suspect for stealing a bicycle battery parked in the parking lot of another apartment complex in Edogawa Ward. The Metropolitan Police Department believes that the person in the security camera is also likely to be the suspect.

According to those involved in the investigation, he initially denied the charges to the interrogators, but later admitted the charges and stated that he had given the stolen battery to an unknown person and received a certain amount of compensation.

In addition, during the interrogation, he hinted that he had stolen a large number of batteries in the past.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the possibility that the stolen batteries may have been systematically sold.

According to those involved in the investigation, in the battery theft cases that were discovered in the past, there were cases where stolen batteries were sold on Internet flea market sites and auction sites, or taken overseas and smuggled, so we are also investigating other theft damage that has been occurring one after another in Tokyo.

What are the measures to prevent theft?

What does it take to protect your battery from theft? Eri Shimada, chief of the crime prevention section of the Kasai Police Station of the Metropolitan Police Department, raises two points.

The first is to keep the battery removed. Even if it is locked, it is broken by a tool and stolen one after another, so it is important to remove the battery frequently and take it home when stopping the bicycle for a long time, such as after returning home.

Chief Shimada says, "Especially in apartment complexes, I would like you to remove them and take them home without being reassured that there are many people you know."

The second is to double lock with a wire or chain lock. Even when it is difficult to carry the battery, such as when you are away from the bicycle for shopping, it is important to secure the battery and bicycle with a chain lock so that it cannot be easily removed.

On top of that, he said, "Recently, the number of bicycle thefts has been increasing, so please lock the door when you leave for shopping."