Police investigator leaves gun in convenience store restroom

KANUMA, Tochigi -- A police investigator left his loaded gun behind in the restroom of a convenience store here during a patrol early Monday, police said.

At around 5:15 a.m. on Monday, a 27-year-old employee of a convenience store in the Kamitamachi district of Kanuma reported to local police that a bag containing what appears to be a gun was found in its restroom.

Officers confirmed the bag contained a loaded gun, handcuffs, sticks and other items belonging to a 27-year-old sergeant at Tochigi Prefectural Police.

The investigator used the restroom at around 3:25 a.m. on Monday during a patrol, and left his bag containing his gun behind. He had been unaware that he left his gun behind until the convenience store employee notified police.

There is no sign that the gun has been used. Prefectural police are poised to take steps to prevent a recurrence.

拳銃忘れ：巡回中の男性巡査部長　コンビニトイレに　栃木

　１４日午前５時１５分ごろ、栃木県鹿沼市上田町のコンビニ店の店員（２７）が「トイレに拳銃のような物が入ったかばんが忘れられている」と県警鹿沼署に届けた。県警機動捜査隊所属の男性巡査長（２７）のウエストポーチで、実弾入りの拳銃や手錠、特殊警棒などが入っていた。中身がなくなったり、使われた形跡はなかったという。

　調べでは、男性巡査部長（５４）と市内巡回中の同３時２５分ごろ、トイレを借りるため店に立ち寄り、腰に付けていたポーチを壁のフックに掛けて置き忘れた。巡査長は連絡があるまで置き忘れに気付かなかった。和気安男・副隊長は「再発防止に努めたい」とコメントした。