Japanese authorities are searching for an Asiatic black bear after it allegedly entered an elderly couple’s home and raided their refrigerator, police and local reporting say. On Monday evening, 87-year-old Mitsuo Matsubara went to investigate a noise in his kitchen and encountered a large bear. Witness reports say the bear left the couple’s fridge open and food scattered on the floor. His wife contacts police, and officials respond after the incident.
The bear search is taking place amid fears it may be linked to a wider pattern of property intrusions. The Guardian reports that officials are dealing with a series of break-ins in one town over roughly two weeks, totaling 14 incidents. Authorities say they are setting up traps and electric fences as part of the response.
Taken together, the accounts describe the same incident at the couple’s residence and the same broader context of multiple break-ins in the area, with police working to determine whether the animal is responsible for some or all of the cases. No alternative suspect is mentioned in the provided text.
