Japan has recently become the setting for a crime story worthy of a thriller script. A group of elderly men, now dubbed the “grandpa gang,” has drawn widespread attention due to their involvement in a series of alleged burglaries. The trio, aged between 69 and 88, includes Hideo Umino, 88, Hidemi Matsuda, 70, and Kenichi Watanabe, 69. They first met while serving time in prison and are now accused of planning a string of thefts after their release. Detectives have given them the code name “G3S,” a playful nod to the Japanese term for “grandpas.”
According to the South China Morning Post, the gang is suspected of committing several thefts in Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital. In their first burglary attempt in May, they reportedly broke into an empty house, stealing 200 yen (approximately Rs 109) and three bottles of whisky valued at 10,000 yen (around Rs 5,450). The following month, they are alleged to have robbed another vacant house in the same district, taking 24 pieces of jewelry worth about one million yen (approximately Rs 5.45 lakh).
The crimes came to light when the owner of the second property grew suspicious and alerted the authorities. Police traced the suspects through surveillance footage and the resale of some stolen items. Investigators have detailed the roles of the elderly suspects: Umino, the eldest, is believed to have led the thefts, Matsuda served as the getaway driver, and Watanabe managed the stolen items.
Reports suggest that the men needed physical assistance from police officers during their arrest. After being detained, the trio claimed they committed the crimes to “make a living.” Authorities are also investigating whether the gang was involved in ten additional burglaries in Sapporo and nearby Ebetsu.
The arrest of the elderly trio has sparked a lively debate on social media. Reactions have ranged from amusement to fascination. One user commented, “They put the youngest one in charge of the easiest job,” while another said, “The code name ‘G3S’ might not be appropriate but sounds very cool.”
Japanese police have noted a significant increase in crimes committed by the elderly in recent years, with the proportion of crimes involving individuals over 65 rising from 2.1% in 1989 to 22% in 2019.
