Ex-plumber arrested for stealing public toilet valves in Saitama says he did it ’80 times’ - TokyoReporter
Published on April 10, 2026.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 49-year-old former plumber, Hisakazu Oba, for allegedly stealing metal flush valves from public park toilets to sell as scrap metal. Oba was caught on camera stealing four brass components valued at approximately 100,000 yen from two restrooms in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture. He confessed to the thefts, stating that he has done this about 70 to 80 times since September and used the stolen parts to place boat racing bets. This arrest comes amid a wave of toilet vandalism across Tokyo and S.
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Ex-plumber arrested for stealing public toilet valves in Saitama says he did it ’80 times’ - TokyoReporter
Former plumber Hisakazu Oba, 49, was arrested for stealing four flush valves from public toilets in Saitama, selling them as scrap metal, causing significant damage to public toilets across Tokyo.
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