Security footage shows a man slipping a silver package, containing a day's earnings, into his pants and hiding it under his T-shirt. This man, Riki Aoki (28), is now accused of repeatedly stealing from the very people who showed him kindness during his hitchhiking journeys.

A Helping Hand

The victim was the office of a company that operates kitchen trucks. The representative, Shinichi Yamamoto, recognized the man in the footage. In December of last year, Yamamoto had picked up Aoki, who was hitchhiking in Chiba City holding a sign for "Kisarazu." They hit it off, and when Aoki mentioned he had nowhere to stay, Yamamoto offered him a place in the company warehouse. Aoki even began helping with the kitchen truck operations and joined a company trip, with Yamamoto describing him as a "bright and good guy."

A Heartbreaking Betrayal

Their farewell was emotional. However, just a month and a half later, Yamamoto's trust was shattered when he reviewed security footage after a break-in and saw Aoki was the culprit. He exclaimed, "No way! It's you!" Yamamoto and a police officer attempted to ambush Aoki at the store but were outrun. The company reported at least four break-ins, with over 500,000 yen stolen.

A Pattern of Behavior

After fleeing Chiba in July, Aoki continued hitchhiking, making his way to Mie and Wakayama prefectures. One couple in Wakayama City gave him a ride, shared a meal, and even let him stay at their home for a week. They found him helpful, even making dinner. Only after learning about the "hitchhiking thief" did they check their belongings and discover 25,000 yen missing from a piggy bank and other sources. They later met up with Aoki under a pretext and called the police, leading to his arrest on a separate embezzlement charge from two years prior. He was subsequently re-arrested for the Chiba break-in and has since been indicted.