Tokyo police have arrested a 39-year-old Chinese national on suspicion of stealing a woman's wallet on the Tsukuba Express, and are investigating whether he belongs to a Chinese pickpocket group behind more than a dozen thefts in Kyoto and Osaka in May, the Sankei Shimbun reported.
The suspect, identified as Yang Moujun, gave no fixed address or occupation. He denies the charge, telling investigators "It wasn't me," according to the Sankei Shimbun.
The Senju police station alleges that Yang stole a wallet holding about 75,000 yen in cash, a My Number card and other items from a shoulder bag. The wallet itself was worth about 1,000 yen.
The theft is alleged to have happened around 9:15 a.m. on September 24, on a train between Aoi and Kitasenju stations.
Woman grabbed his sleeve
The woman, in her 70s, noticed the theft and grabbed Yang's sleeve. "You took my wallet, didn't you?" she shouted, according to the station.
Yang broke free and ran off after the train reached Kitasenju Station.
Investigators suspect Yang is a member of a Chinese pickpocket group that committed more than a dozen thefts on trains and buses in Kyoto and Osaka prefectures in May. The station is continuing its inquiry.