Rikiya Morita, a 24-year-old fugitive, has been arrested in Niigata Prefecture in connection with a string of violent robberies across Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. Morita, whose address and occupation remain unknown, was taken into custody on Monday evening in the city of Kashiwazaki, initially in connection with a fraud investigation by Niigata Prefectural Police. Upon further questioning, he admitted his involvement in a series of robberies, including a violent home invasion that left an elderly couple injured.
Morita’s arrest comes after a month-long manhunt following his suspected role in a robbery that occurred on October 1 in Tokorozawa, Saitama. During this break-in, Morita and three accomplices allegedly entered the home of an elderly couple. The 85-year-old man and his 83-year-old wife were tied up while the robbers ransacked their home. The elderly man suffered a cut to his arm, which is expected to take two weeks to heal. The suspects made off with ¥80,000 (approximately $540) in cash and other valuables.
Saitama Prefectural Police have already arrested three men in their 20s to 40s in connection with the crime. Morita’s accomplices were reportedly part of an anonymous criminal group suspected of orchestrating a series of violent robberies in the Tokyo and Saitama areas. Police believe the group recruits individuals through underground job listings, using different perpetrators for each robbery and replacing them after each crime. The investigation into the group is ongoing, with police from both Tokyo and Saitama collaborating on the case.
Morita’s movements after the Tokorozawa robbery have been traced through surveillance footage. Authorities believe he fled the scene in a car, eventually taking a bullet train to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. On the way, Morita was seen boarding a taxi in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, at around 3 a.m. on October 1. This led investigators to suspect that he was part of a broader criminal network that operates across multiple regions.
When questioned by police, Morita reportedly explained his motives, stating that he needed money to cover living expenses and that he was directed to commit the Tokorozawa robbery after attempting to collect payment for another robbery he had been involved in the day before, in Kokubunji, western Tokyo. He confessed, saying, “I went to collect payment and was told to commit another robbery. I couldn’t say no.”
Morita now faces charges of armed robbery resulting in injury, along with additional charges related to criminal conspiracy and theft. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the larger criminal syndicate that may be responsible for multiple robberies across the region.
