TOKYO — The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested three Brazilian nationals in connection with a series of luxury car thefts, authorities said Thursday.
The suspects—Perdomo Emerson Luiz, Oliveira Murakawa Dheivid, and Makio Dias Wellington—are accused of stealing a Land Cruiser 300 SUV worth approximately ¥8.5 million ($55,000) from a parking lot in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, on Dec. 5, 2025. The vehicle was later recovered at a business hotel in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Police believe the trio may be responsible for around 50 vehicle thefts across Tokyo and seven other prefectures, targeting high-end models such as Lexus and Land Cruiser vehicles, causing total damages estimated at ¥450 million.
Investigators seized a “CAN Invader” device from the suspects’ residences and vehicles—a tool that can illegally start car engines. While Toyota has strengthened its latest models against such theft devices, the suspects reportedly bypassed these measures.
The trio has denied the allegations. Authorities continue to investigate the scope of the theft ring.
