Theft of the safe with 8 million yen including donations for the new Corona Gunma Zoological and Botanical Garden September 1, 17:17
At the Zoo and Botanical Garden in Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture, where the number of visitors decreased due to the effect of the new coronavirus, it was revealed that a safe box containing cash of about 8 million yen was stolen on the 31st.
The police are investigating the case as a theft case because the donation of more than 2.7 million yen collected from all over the country due to the decrease in the number of visitors was in the safe.
According to the police and the garden, at around 7:00 am on the 31st, when the principal worked at the animal and plant garden "Kusatsu Tropical Area" in Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture, he noticed that the safe inside the office was stolen. It was.
The safe is about 1 meter long, about 60 cm wide and 60 cm wide, and weighs about 150 kg. Inside, there were about 8 million yen in cash including sales, as well as a passbook and seal.
Since the number of visitors has decreased due to the new coronavirus and the garden is facing the crisis of abandonment, the garden is seeking donations on its website, etc.The stolen cash is more than 2.7 million yen donated from all over the country Is also included.
According to the investigation so far, the entrance door to the snack corner in the same building as the office has been pryed open, and the police are investigating it as a theft case because it seems that someone invaded from here and stole the safe.
Director “I am sorry for those who have supported me”
According to Toshio Imai, director of the Kusatsu Tropics, when he came to work around 7:00 am on the 31st, he noticed that the door of the office was unlocked, and when he went inside, the safe was stolen. Is that.
The other door of the office was also destroyed, the door of the snack corner in the same building was pryed open, and there was something left behind near the entrance of the garden that seemed to drag something is.
Director Imai said, "I'm sorry and regrettable for the people who donated money from all over the country and supported me. I want to yell at the criminals."
Zoo and Botanical Garden opened in 1965
"Kusatsu Tropics" is a private botanical garden in Kusatsu Onsen, which opened in 1965.
In addition to capybaras and crocodiles, we keep about 250 species of 1000 animals including monkeys and snakes. According to the garden, about 100,000 people visited last year.
However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, this holiday closed from late April to mid May, so the number of visitors from January to August was about 60% of the same period last year. about it.