Fukuoka cops file more charges against train sign thief

FUKUOKA (TR) – Police submitted to prosecutors on Friday an additional charge over a case involving a man’s theft of 134 destination plates from trains.

Fukuoka Prefecture police submitted additional charges in the case involving suspect Yoshihiko Mori, 54, a company employee from Aichi Prefecture, and his alleged theft of 134 train destination plates worth an estimated 5.6 million yen, the Asahi Shimbun reports (June 3).

Mori was arrested in March for stealing an Akatsuki express sleeper train’s destination plate on display at a candy shop in Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City.

Mori subsequently admitted to police that he had been “stealing railway stuff from all around Japan since six or seven years ago.”

“I have the stolen goods stashed at home,” Mori told police. “I wanted them because I’m a train fanatic. I used trains to get around.”

Investigators discovered destination plates, number plates and other goods stolen from tourist destinations across 16 prefectures at Mori’s home.