Japanese Internet Sleuths Help Arrest Cosplayer In Bike Theft Case

A recent incident involving a cosplayer and a stolen motorcycle has captured significant attention on social media. The individual, who later turned themself in to law enforcement, reportedly lifted a rare bike that was not only valuable but also discontinued. The bike’s owner, however, demonstrated no intention of accepting the cosplayer’s apology.

On December 30, the cosplayer, who goes by the username ‘SakuraVictoria_’, made off with a motorbike parked outside a residential complex in Japan. Unknown to them at the time, the motorcycle belonged to a user on X, known as ‘nyankoya85.’

After the theft was discovered, the owner’s wife took to social media, sharing the bike’s license plate and appealing for help in locating it. This post rapidly circulated, accruing more than 14 million views across various platforms.

The breakthrough came the following day when a vigilant internet user recognized the stolen bike in a post by the cosplayer, who had eagerly shared a photo of the vintage motorcycle online. The cosplayer had expressed a long-standing desire for this particular model, claiming to have wanted it for 15 years, and joyously announced that they finally had one.

The owner immediately recognized their bike from its detailed tires. — X: chanmn_12

The owner immediately recognized their bike from the distinctive tires they had installed.

Cosplayer’s Unconditional Apology to the Motorcycle Owner

Once contacted, the owner and his wife quickly identified the bike thanks to unique replacement tires featuring special patterns they had installed. Recognizing the significant attention around the case, the 39-year-old cosplayer made the decision to surrender to the police on January 1. Upon turning themselves in, they expressed remorse, albeit with a simple, “Sorry.”

Despite the cosplayer’s apology, the bike’s owner was not willing to accept it, especially after learning that the steering lock had been broken during the theft. The owner expressed a desire to meet with the cosplayer in person to discuss the matter further, but the cosplayer declined to engage.

Following their self-surrender, the cosplayer was arrested. Beyond the potential criminal charges, their social media accounts faced restrictions, with posts being hidden from the public view. It remains unclear whether these measures are enforced by the authorities or if the cosplayer has opted to limit their own account access.

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