Four men arrested on suspicion of preliminary robbery; also seen going in and out of Kabukicho's "Toyoko" area Metropolitan Police Department

The Metropolitan Police Department announced on the 4th that four men aged 20 to 25 were arrested on suspicion of preparing for a robbery, after allegedly possessing items including crowbars and ski masks for the purpose of committing robbery. Two of the men frequented the area around "Toyoko" in Tokyo's Kabukicho, and are believed to have been invited by an acquaintance from Kabukicho to participate in the crime.

Those arrested include a 25-year-old man of unknown occupation (from Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture); a 20-year-old unemployed man (from Taishi Town, Osaka Prefecture) who was a junior high school subordinate of the 25-year-old; another 22-year-old unemployed man of no fixed address; and a 20-year-old unemployed man of no fixed address who was 19 at the time. The 20-year-old man from Osaka Prefecture reportedly stated, "I can't say right now," while the other three reportedly stated, "There is no mistake," admitting to the charges.

According to the 3rd Bureau of Investigation, the four men are suspected of conspiring on the night of April 6 to attempt to steal money and a car from a woman living in an apartment in Machida City, Tokyo, while equipped with crowbars, ski masks, and gloves.

The woman became suspicious when she saw the men through the intercom and placed a 110 emergency call.

A smartphone used by the 25-year-old man contained memos stating phrases such as "The goal is car recovery" and "Beat her if she doesn't tell where the money is or give the account PIN." The division suspects this man acted as the coordinator and received information about the woman from another individual.

The 22-year-old man and the man who was 19 at the time frequented Toyoko, and it is suspected that they were invited to join by the 20-year-old man whom they met in Kabukicho.