Japan Social Media Users Track Down Stolen Vintage Suzuki After Cosplayer Flaunts It on X
Cosplayer in Japan caught after stealing a motorcycle and posting photos online. Social media sleuths and unique bike features helped identify the thief, who later turned himself in to the police.
A bizarre incident in Japan has captured the attention of social media, leading to the arrest of a cosplayer who stole a motorcycle and posted photos of it online. The story took an unexpected twist when it was revealed that the thief, initially perceived as a woman, was actually a 39-year-old man. The saga began when the wife of the motorcycle’s owner, @chanmn__12, announced that their beloved Suzuki TL1000R, a classic race bike worth around 1.1 million yen (US$7,000) on the second-hand market, had been stolen on December 30. The bike, difficult to find in such good condition, had been parked in Shinshiro city in Aichi prefecture the night before it was discovered missing.
The owner, @nyankoya85, had posted the bike’s specifications and registration plate number online, seeking help in locating it. The appeal quickly gained traction, garnering over 14 million views and 1,400 reposts.
Check Out the Viral Post
皆さんのお力を貸してください😭
— KAEにゃん@にゃんこ屋 (@chanmn__12) December 30, 2024
やご(@nyankoya85 )のバイクが盗難に合いましたとても大切な車体です！！！
ナンバー 豊橋く291 です！！！
昨日の夜~本日明け方です#バイク盗難 #愛知県 #新城市 #拡散希望RTお願いします
私かやごどちらでも構いません!!
なんでもいいので情報をください pic.twitter.com/Diy3bopqFd
Less than 24 hours later, social media sleuths identified a cosplayer, @SakuraVictoria_, who had uploaded photos of the same bike on December 31. The post, which was later deleted, showed the motorcycle being loaded into a van, raising suspicions among online users. The cosplayer’s caption expressed joy at finally owning a Suzuki TL1000R after 15 years of longing.
The bike’s owner immediately recognized the unique tyre patterns he had personally installed, confirming it was his stolen vehicle. His wife reported the discovery to the police right away. On January 1, 2025, it was reported that a 39-year-old man from Hamamatsu, an hour’s drive from Shinshiro, turned himself in to the police for stealing the motorcycle from a residential building’s car park. The man, who had been masquerading as a plump female animation character, confessed to the crime and apologized to the victim. However, the bike’s owner refused to forgive him, citing the damage done to the steering lock during the theft.
ポスト消した垢主様？？既に警察に連絡入れて動いておりますので
— KAEにゃん@にゃんこ屋 (@chanmn__12) December 31, 2024
逃げないで下さいね？？@SakuraVictoria_ https://t.co/e5lj1qoPp5 pic.twitter.com/5ph6LRA5OF
“This thief was so stupid, showing off stolen stuff online,” commented one online observer. Another noted, “How good it is that the lost property could be retrieved on the first day of the New Year. It is a lucky sign.” The cosplayer’s social media account is now locked, with all posts hidden, bringing an end to a strange and twisted tale of theft and online bravado.
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