Pawn Shop Robbery in Saitama Foiled by Quick-Thinking Store Owner. A dramatic pawn shop robbery in Saitama was caught on surveillance footage in the early hours of May 16. Two men broke into a pawn shop in Kumagaya City, but thanks to the brave efforts of the store owner and his wife — armed only with determination and insect spray — the robbery was foiled. One suspect has been arrested while the other remains on the run.
Robbery Begins with Two Men Breaking In
At around 2 a.m. on May 16, a black car pulled up in front of a pawn shop in Saitama Prefecture. Surveillance footage captured two men exiting the vehicle — one from the driver’s seat and one from the passenger side — and breaking into the store.
As seen on security video, the men smashed the glass to enter the store. Once inside, one of them began looting gold vouchers and valuables from display cases, stuffing them into bags.
Store Owner Confronts the Robbers
The store owner suddenly appeared, leading to a confrontation:
“I couldn’t let them escape, so I got into a scuffle with them,” the owner later told reporters.
The robbers, caught off guard, attempted to flee back to their car. As they struggled to start the vehicle, the store owner smashed the car windows with a crowbar to prevent them from escaping easily.
Wife Joins the Fight with Insect Spray
The most unexpected turn came when the owner’s wife joined the fight — carrying a can of insect spray.
“I guess they panicked and forgot how to start the car,” the owner explained.
“My wife brought out the insect spray and handed it to me.”
Spraying the insecticide into the car through a hole in the windshield caused chaos inside the vehicle. Eventually, overwhelmed by the fumes, the two suspects opened the doors and ran away on foot.
One Suspect Arrested, Another Still at Large
Police have since arrested a 69-year-old man believed to be one of the robbers. The second man remains at large. Authorities are continuing their investigation and asking the public for any leads.
nanijapan.com