Saitama Residents on High Alert Following Wave of 'While-You-Sleep' Burglaries Near Route 16
A series of violent residential burglaries targeting residents while they sleep has broken out in Saitama Prefecture, sparking widespread anxiety among local communities. The crimes are heavily concentrated in areas near National Route 16, a major arterial road, including Saitama City's Iwatsuki Ward and Kumagaya City. The typical modus operandi involves intruders breaking first-floor window glass to enter homes between late night and dawn. On April 20, multiple reports of cash and valuables being stolen from detached houses in the Kakura and Namiki neighborhoods of Iwatsuki Ward surfaced. These incidents have been occurring almost nightly, characterized by a high volume of strikes within a specific area over a short period. On social media, residents are expressing deep concern. "I feel like I can't protect my home without installing iron bars or shutters," one user wrote, while another shared, "I’m now terrified of living on the first floor." While many po...