On the 17th of October, Osaka Prefectural Police announced the arrest of two individuals, including 41-year-old Ryota Egaki, on charges of theft relating to the repeated stealing of luxury vehicles such as Lexus and Alphard models. The investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to their crimes, with one stating their intent to sell the stolen cars for financial gain. The police believe that the suspects exploited a fault diagnosis machine, typically used in automotive repair, to facilitate their car thefts.

According to reports from the Osaka police's investigation division, Egaki and his accomplices conspired between May 2020 and May of last year to steal luxury cars from parking lots in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture. They have been confirmed responsible for a total of 356 theft cases across 11 prefectures, resulting in significant financial losses estimated at around 1 billion yen through the loss of 210 vehicles, along with other crimes such as break-ins and burglaries.

The method employed by the criminals involved using unlocking tools to open doors, followed by connecting the fault diagnosis machine to the vehicles. This device was then used to extract key information from the car’s onboard computer systems, allowing them to replicate smart keys. Currently, the two individuals are facing charges for theft concerning one incident where a Crown vehicle was stolen, and the police are continuing to investigate the broader network involved in the crime.