A man broke into an unattended "koban" (police box) at JR Odawara Station in Kanagawa Prefecture on Sunday night and smashed windows before mutilating both his cheeks with a knife, police said Monday.

According to police, the man, who appeared to be in his 40s, entered the koban at the eastern entrance of the station by breaking through the door and and smashed nearly all the windows with a metal folding chair, Fuji TV reported.

The koban's officers were out on patrol at the time. When they returned, the man was still smashing windows and then cut his cheeks as police tried to subdue him.

Police said the man was taken to hospital. They said his speech was incomprehensible and will wait until he recovers before questioning him.

© Japan Today