Overview

• The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department formally dismissed 51-year-old detective Ryoji Masano on July 25 after he was indicted for stealing cash from fire scenes.
• Authorities say Masano took about ¥9 million from eight residential fire scenes in Tokyo between October 2022 and February 2025, targeting the homes of single elderly victims.
• The department issued verbal warnings to Masano’s three direct supervisors for lapses in oversight.
• Masano admitted that his sense of guilt faded after repeated thefts and acknowledged there was no excuse for his conduct.
• Masano had served as a section manager in the First Investigation Division, specializing in arson cases.