Tokyo Robbers Steal $2.7M Cash in Ueno Street Heist

A team of three robbers stole suitcases containing about 420 million yen ($2.7 million) on a busy street in central Tokyo, police and local media reported on Friday. Such crimes are rare in Japan, which is known for its high level of public safety.

The robbery happened around 9:30 pm on Thursday near Ueno Station, a popular tourist area. The suspects sprayed pepper spray at the victims and grabbed the luggage filled with cash before escaping.

According to local media, the victims were five Chinese and Japanese nationals who were loading the suitcases into a vehicle. Investigators believe the money was being delivered to currency exchange businesses, though the exact reason for carrying such a large amount of cash is still unclear.

In a separate incident, another man carrying 190 million yen in cash was attacked with pepper spray by three men early Friday at a parking garage at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Police are investigating whether the two attacks are connected.

Authorities have launched a search for the suspects and are reviewing security footage to identify the robbers.