TOKYOJul 5 (News On Japan) – A male elementary school teacher in his 30s has been arrested for breaking into the home of a female high school student who was once his student, using a spare key he had made five years ago. The teacher allegedly took the original key to a school event and secretly made a copy.
Teacher uses spare key to break into former student’s home, raising concerns among parents
On July 2, a 39-year-old male teacher at an elementary school in Edogawa Ward was arrested for breaking into the home of a female high school student who had once been his student in May.
Parents at the teacher’s current school reacted with shock:
โHe seemed energetic, friendly and trusted by both students and teachers. This is shocking,โ said one parent.
The school organized a parents’ evening to discuss the problem.
“The teacher was an important member of our staff and we trusted him. As a principal, I have no intention of defending him. He committed an unforgivable act,” the principal said.
The teacher, who was also the head of the school’s guidance department, had been planning the crime for five years. During a school event five years ago, he took the key to his student’s house to a nearby store and made a copy without permission.
The teacher later transferred to another school, while the former student went to high school. The incident took place this year.
One morning in late May around 10 a.m., the teacher, dressed in black with a hat and mask, used the spare key to enter the high school student’s apartment. The girl’s father was home at the time.
โI heard a noise at the door and thought my daughter had forgotten something and came back. When I looked outside, I saw a man with his shoes on in the hallway, about to enter the living room,โ the father said.
When the teacher saw the father, he fled and was later arrested. During interrogation, he reportedly said, “I suddenly remembered that she was now in high school, so I decided to break in after five years. I was in love with her because I was her mentor and wanted her high school uniform.”
Although the teacher has since been released, parents expressed their concerns during the meeting.
โIs it safe for children to bring keys to school? What measures are being taken?โ one parent asked.
The school responded: “We understand the national concern this incident has caused. Although we have not yet devised concrete measures, we will ensure that such incidents do not recur.”
Parents of young children expressed concerns about the use of spare keys.
Keys and security concerns
A 10-year-old girl noted, โI keep my key on my backpack,โ while her mother added, โThe school advises us to keep it in the backpack, but it’s handy to have it on hand. We didn’t expect something like this to happen, so it’s worrying.โ
The Danger of Duplicate Keys Made with โKey Numbersโ
Kanai Tsutomu, president of Kanai Co., Ltd., a company specializing in locks and security products since the Meiji period, emphasized not only the importance of preventing keys from being stolen, but also the danger of โkey numbers.โ
“Most keys have a unique number engraved on them. If someone knows the key number, they can easily make a duplicate key using the manufacturer’s information,” Kanai said. “The key number is as valuable as the lives of the family behind the door.”
Despite the availability of stickers and other products to hide important numbers, people on the streets expressed their concerns.
A woman in her 20s said, “It’s scary how easy it is to make a duplicate key if you know the number.” A 43-year-old man noted, “I had no idea. Now I know to be extra careful with my keys, especially when I’m drunk.”
Security measures for key numbers
Fujimori Shohei, a news anchor, noted: “It is unthinkable that a teacher would take a child’s key to school and commit such a crime. Protecting children is crucial, but this issue affects everyone.”
Journalist Keiko Hamada added: “While the convenience of online allows us to order duplicate keys by simply entering a number, it also comes with risks. Strict ID verification when making duplicate keys or hiding children’s keys in key rings or pouches may be necessary measures.”
Hamada also said: “In cases such as stalking, even a photo of a key can lead to unauthorized duplication. It is vital to replace the lock completely if such a problem occurs.”
Source: TBS
