Chiba Police Arrest Chinese National Zhang Lizhi, Alleged Ringleader of a Bathhouse Theft Ring That Swapped Credit-Card Chips in Nearly 100 Cases
Police in Japan's Chiba Prefecture arrested Zhang Lizhi, a 46-year-old unemployed Chinese national, on November 11, accusing him of conspiring with accomplices in September to break into a "super sento" (large public bathhouse) in the prefecture in order to steal valuables. Police believe Zhang was the ring's handler, directing the others.
An 18-year-old Chinese national was arrested in October for allegedly opening changing-room lockers with duplicate keys to steal valuables; police seized 170 duplicate locker keys from him and found messages on his phone believed to be instructions from Zhang sent through a social app, including asking whether there was any cash. Zhang has denied the allegations, telling investigators, "I don't know anything about it."
According to police, nearly 100 similar cases occurred between June and September at bathing facilities across Tokyo and the neighbouring prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa: while guests were in the baths, the thieves opened their lockers with duplicate keys, took their credit cards, peeled off the IC chips, replaced them with fakes and put the cards back, so victims often noticed nothing at the time. The stolen genuine chips were then used in Hong Kong, the United States and Europe, including for electronics purchases, with confirmed losses running to several million yen; in many cases the chips were used in Hong Kong the very next day.
Police believe an internationally active Chinese theft group is behind the series of cases, possibly with couriers moving the chips and bases abroad, and are investigating the group's structure. Zhang has not been charged, and the investigation is continuing.
(Source: Chiba Prefectural Police)
Source: Chiba Prefectural Police
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：日本福岛县饭坂町的公共浴场鲭湖汤外景（资料图）。照片为公共领域作品，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Exterior of the Sabakoyu public bathhouse in Iizaka, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan (file photo). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
