A man in Japan copied the house key of a colleague, sneaked into her home 20 times and took more than 300 photographs in a bizarre attempt to get her attention.
Tokyo office worker Yuki Murai, 27, was described as quiet and reserved, with few social connections at work.
About six months ago, a new administrative assistant joined the company where he works. She quickly became popular for her sweet looks and gentle personality.
After meeting her at a company dinner, Murai began messaging her frequently, asking about her lunch, her favourite animals and other personal matters.
She replied a few times out of politeness but eventually stopped engaging.
Murai later told police: “I felt like she was toying with me, maybe even deliberately ignoring me.”
One night while working late, Murai rifled through the woman’s bag while she was away from her desk.
He found her house key, took a photograph of it, then noted the manufacturer’s details and key number.
He contacted an online key duplication service and had a copy made.
The shop advertised itself as “highly skilled” and claimed not to question clients’ reasons for using the service.
Murai then began monitoring the woman’s routine and found that she often went jogging in the evenings.
One weekend evening, he sneaked into her flat for the first time, wandering through her bedroom, living room, and bathroom.
Over the next few months, Murai broke in at least 20 more times, stealing pieces of her clothing as “souvenirs”.
He also took over 300 photos with his phone, capturing images of her inside the home, her clothes on the sofa, and even spots of water on the bathroom mirror.
The woman grew suspicious after noticing her clothes had been moved and unfamiliar footprints on the floor.
She contacted the police and installed hidden cameras in her home. When Murai returned, officers caught him in the act.
According to The Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Murai stole six items during his final break-in, including clothes, bags, and a surveillance camera worth about 15,000 yen (US$100).
He told the police he never meant to harm her: “I just wanted her to feel my presence. She never replied to my messages.”
On June 17, Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced that Murai had been arrested on suspicion of trespass and theft.
The case has sparked outrage on social media.
One online observer said: “This is terrifying. The devil might be right beside you. People who seem normal can have the darkest obsessions.”
“The Japanese government should tighten regulations on key duplication services. One small oversight can pose a huge risk to society,” said another. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
