Osaka student steals sports car, wins race with it

OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a 20-year-old university student for the theft of two sports cars, one of which was used at a racing circuit, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Sep. 3).

The third-year male student is under prosecution for the theft of a Nissan GT-R (valued at 15.8 million yen) from the parking lot of a vehicle shipping company in Kobe in April.

That same month, the student drove the Nissan in a Japan Automobile Federation race in Hyogo Prefecture in which he took first place while using a license plate taken from his mother’s car. According to the Sankei Shimbun (Sep. 2), footage on the circuit’s Web site shows the suspect in the winner’s circle next to the stolen vehicle.

The suspect, who was a minor at the time of the crimes, admits to the allegations, telling police that he has aspirations to eventually race at the Suzuku Circuit.

The student was also arrested for stealing a BMW M4 (valued at 11.3 million yen) from a parking lot of the same company in Osaka’s Suminoe Ward in February.

Police have also arrested Masatsugu Yoshii, 21, in the theft of both vehicles. A 20-year-old male is also under prosecution in the theft of the Nissan.

The matter came to light after the BMW was involved in an accident in Daito City in May.