Haneda Airport Security Inspector Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Cash from Passenger During Baggage Inspection

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

羽田空港 検査員が手荷物検査中に乗客の現金盗んだ疑いで逮捕

2025年9月15日 12時25分

羽田空港で働く21歳の保安検査員が、手荷物検査中に乗客の現金9万円を盗んだとして、警視庁に逮捕されました。

逮捕されたのは、羽田空港で航空会社から委託を受けて保安検査を行っている警備会社の社員、松本龍容疑者（21）です。15日、検察庁に送られました。

警視庁によりますと、13日午後6時半前、羽田空港第1ターミナルの国内線の保安検査場で、30代の乗客の現金9万円を盗んだとして窃盗の疑いが持たれています。

乗客が手荷物検査の際にリュックなどと一緒に現金をトレーの上に乗せて検査を受けていたところ、案内を担当していた容疑者が現金をとって自分のワイシャツのポケットに入れ、近くのトイレの個室の補充用トイレットペーパーの芯の中に入れて隠していたということです。

検査を終えた乗客が、現金がなくなっていることに気づいて別の保安検査員に伝え、警視庁が調べたところ防犯カメラに不審な動きをする容疑者が写っていたということです。

調べに対して容疑を認め、「スリルを楽しむために盗んだ。仕事が体力的に大変で辞めようと思っていて、生活の足しとして貯金しようと思った」と話しているということです。

また、「ことしの8月ごろ以降、70回から80回ほどレーンに乗せた2つ折りの財布から現金を抜き取り、150万円ほど盗んだ」などと話しているということで、警視庁が詳しく調べています。

Translation

Haneda Airport Security Inspector Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Cash from Passenger During Baggage Inspection

A 21-year-old security inspector working at Haneda Airport was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for stealing ¥90,000 in cash from a passenger during a baggage inspection.

The arrested suspect, Ryu Matsumoto (松本龍) (21), was an employee of a security company that conducted security inspections on behalf of airlines at Haneda Airport. He was sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office on the 15th.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect was being held on suspicion of stealing ¥90,000 in cash from a passenger in his 30s at the domestic security inspection area of ​​Haneda Airport's Terminal 1 just before 6:30 PM on the 13th.

When the passenger was undergoing baggage inspection with cash on a tray along with his backpack, the suspect, who was guiding passengers, took the cash, put it in his shirt pocket, and hid it in a refill toilet paper roll in a nearby restroom.

After completing the inspection, the passenger noticed that the cash was missing and informed another security inspector. An investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department revealed that the suspect was behaving suspiciously as captured on security camera footage.

When questioned, the suspect admitted to the charges, saying, "I stole it for the thrill of it. My job is physically demanding so I am thinking of quitting,  I want to save the money to supplement my living expenses."

The suspect also said, "Since around August this year, I have stolen cash from bifold wallets placed on the lane approximately for 70 to 80 times, stealing approximately 1.5 million yen." The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was currently investigating the matter further.

So, a security inspector working at Haneda Airport has been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for stealing cash from a passenger during a baggage inspection. It is shocking to know that he has stolen cash from passengers for approximately 70 to 80 times previously without being caught.