Tokyo police are investigating a series of brazen cash robberies that occurred over two days, begining Thursday evening in the Ueno district adn extending to Haneda Airport on friday. the incidents, involving approximately ¥610 million (roughly $4.1 million USD) stolen in total, have prompted increased security measures and raised concerns about a potential coordinated operation [[1]]. Authorities are working to determine if the attacks, which involved both theft and assault, are linked and to identify the perpetrators [[2]].
Tokyo –
A brazen robbery in central Tokyo has left authorities investigating the theft of approximately $2.7 million, equivalent to 45.3 billion yen. The incident, which occurred near Ueno Station on Thursday, January 29, 2026, highlights vulnerabilities even in one of the world’s safest major cities.
According to a spokesperson for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the robbery took place around 9:30 p.m. local time. While details remain limited, police confirmed that the victims included both Chinese and Japanese nationals.
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Initial reports indicate the victims were in the process of loading the cash into a vehicle when they were targeted. The purpose for carrying such a large sum of money remains unclear, though local media outlet Fuji Television reported the group was transporting the funds to a currency exchange.
In a separate incident on Friday, January 30, 2026, a man was attacked with pepper spray by three individuals while at a parking lot at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The assailant(s) made off with 190 million yen in cash, according to local reports.
Tokyo police are now investigating a potential connection between the two robberies, according to TBS Television. The possibility of a coordinated effort is being examined as authorities work to apprehend the perpetrators in both cases.
