Japan has recently been drawn into a crime saga that could easily inspire a thriller script. A trio of elderly men have seized widespread attention due to their involvement in a series of alleged robberies. This is why the group with men aged between 69 and 88 is being referred to as “grandpa gang” in Japan. According to South China Morning Post, Hideo Umino, 88, Hidemi Matsuda, 70 and Kenichi Watanabe, 69, first crossed paths while serving their time in prison. They have been accused of plotting a string of burglaries after they were released. The detectives investigating the case gave them a code name “G3S,” a playful nod to the Japanese term for “grandpas.”
As per the news portal, the trio is alleged to have committed a series of thefts in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. During their first burglary attempt in May, they reportedly broke into an empty house, stealing 200 yen (approximately Rs 109) and three bottles of whisky valued at 10,000 yen (approximately Rs 5,450). The following month, they are accused of robbing another vacant residence in the same district, taking 24 pieces of jewelry worth around one million yen (about Rs 5.45 lakh).
Their alleged activities came to light when the owner of the second property grew suspicious and contacted the authorities. Police tracked the suspects through surveillance footage and the resale of some stolen items. The investigators have described the roles of the elderly suspects where Umino, the eldest, is believed to have led the thefts, Matsuda acted as the getaway driver and Watanabe, the youngest, handled the stolen items.
Reports indicate that the men required physical assistance from police officers during their arrest. After their arrest, the group claimed that they committed the crimes to “make a living.” Authorities are also looking into whether the gang was involved in ten additional burglaries in Sapporo and nearby Ebetsu.
The arrest of the elderly trio has ignited a lively conversation on social media. According to SCMP, reactions varied from amusement to intrigue. One user remarked, “They put the youngest one in charge of the easiest job while another noted, “The code name ‘G3S’ might not be appropriate but sounds very cool.”
Japanese police stated that there has been a significant rise in crimes committed by the elderly in recent years. The proportion of crimes involving individuals over 65 surged from 2.1% in 1989 to 22% in 2019.
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