University Student Uncovers The Shocking Truth Behind Her Home Break-In

A chance encounter led to a disturbing plot twist for a woman whose apartment had been broken into.

On June 17, the woman–a university student who has not been named–found out that a stranger had entered her home while she was out. Her friend, who happened to be visiting the apartment, came face to face with the culprit, who then fled the scene.

After learning of the incident, the woman called a coworker to ask him for a favor. “A strange old man came to my house to rob me,” she told him. “I want you to take my shift.” After ending the call, she returned home to check her security footage and discovered that the culprit was 51-year-old Shirai Takakazu–her coworker.

As it turns out, this break-in wasn’t an isolated incident; Shirai broke into the apartment at least thirteen times, using copies he’d made of the woman’s keys.

He photographed the women’s keys at work with his phone, then ordered duplicates from a locksmith using the keys’ numbers. During one break-in, Shirai stole two photo booth sticker prints (purikura) that were worth 750 yen (approximately $5.00 USD).

After Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested him, Shirai admitted to the charges. While in the apartment, he photographed the woman’s underwear to “relieve stress.” Police found dozens of photos of women’s underwear on his phone.

I had feelings for her. I was breathing in the fresh air in the room and taking pictures of her underwear, which helped me relieve stress from work. I actually wanted to steal her underwear, but I thought that using printed stickers would not get me caught.

— Shirai Takakuzu