In April, the National Police Agency compiled a report on the state of organized crime involving “anonymous and fluid criminal groups” (known as *Tokuryu*) in 2025. According to the report, regarding robbery cases in the capital region, ringleaders and others share information via group chats on highly secure messaging apps. These apps encrypt communications and ensure that no records remain on the operating company’s servers. Criminal groups utilize these secure group chats to share details about target residences and offices. The crimes begin with a division of roles among “job brokers” (*anken-ya*), ringleaders, and actual perpetrators. In one instance, a broker purchased information regarding the location of valuables for one million yen. Unfortunately, the specific channels through which these brokers obtain such information remain unknown. A ringleader then purchases this “job” from the broker and assigns roles to perpetrators—often individuals in financial distress—to carry out the robbery.
Incidents involving repeated targeting of specific companies and offices have occurred in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Serious crimes committed by *Tokuryu* groups have followed one another, such as a robbery-murder in Tochigi Prefecture in May. An office belonging to a precious metals dealer in Shinjuku was the site of an attempted robbery in February, followed by a case of conspiracy to commit robbery in May; a transaction involving gold bullion had been scheduled at that location. On May 24, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested men in the act for conspiracy to commit robbery at a private home in Koganei City, Tokyo. That home had previously been the site of consecutive break-ins in mid-May, apparently with the intent to rob. Police believe that multiple criminal groups ended up targeting the same location repeatedly; information suggesting the presence of valuables had leaked, leading different groups to target the home one after another. In the May incident, the police had detected the movements of the perpetrators in advance. Several men were arrested in the act on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery after being found in possession of concealed screwdrivers intended for use in a home invasion.
Crime in Japan is declining remarkably, and juvenile delinquency is on the decrease as well. Unfortunately, crime cannot be eliminated entirely, but it can be reduced. The businesses and private homes targeted by groups such as *tokuryu* (ad-hoc criminal groups) are those with financial assets. The police appear to be gradually accumulating data on “target brokers” (who compile lists of potential victims), the roles of those issuing orders, and the personality profiles of the actual perpetrators. Training AI on this data to create tools capable of classification and prediction will also contribute to crime deterrence. One example of this in action occurred in May, when authorities detected the movements of perpetrators in advance and arrested them in the act on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery—specifically for carrying concealed screwdrivers with the intent to break in. Greater attention will likely be paid to the behavioral patterns of criminals and the ability to predict their actions, as well as the behavioral patterns of those vulnerable to being deceived. Efforts to raise public awareness regarding effective countermeasures against crime are also expected to advance. We should aim to increase the number of communities that crime levels are lower than they are today.
