Last month, a 42-year-old suspect was arrested for stealing two water meters from a new housing construction site in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture. Water meters have been stolen one after another in Saitama Prefecture since November last year, and the police are also looking into possible connections.
The person arrested was Shiho Taguchi (42), a self-proclaimed company employee from Sengendai, Ageo City.
According to the police, on the 26th of last month, a man is suspected of stealing two water meters worth approximately 6,700 yen from a new housing construction site in Minami-Ogishima, Koshigaya City.
In response to the investigation, he admitted to the charges and stated, ``I needed the money.''
According to the police, water meters have been stolen from new housing construction sites in Saitama Prefecture since November last year.
Police have confiscated 10 water meters and tools that are not related to the latest incident, and will investigate whether this is related.
Police warn of rising number of water meter thefts
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters, there were approximately 70 incidents of water meters being stolen at construction sites for new apartment complexes and single-family homes in Koshigaya City, Asaka City, Kawaguchi City, and other cities over the past year.
Up until October last year, there were 1 to 5 cases per month, but this rapidly increased to 14 cases in November and 30 cases in December, bringing the total number of meters stolen in the past year to 320. .
There have been 14 incidents since this year, with approximately 100 meters stolen.
Alloys containing copper are used in water meters, and police believe that the soaring price of copper is one of the reasons behind the continued damage.
According to the police, most of the victims were located at sites with poor security, and water meters were not locked for meter reading, making them easy targets.
On the other hand, there was no damage at another new construction site near the site in Koshigaya City where security cameras were installed, and the police said, ``We have installed security cameras and sensor lights and are taking countermeasures. Please do the following.''