Saitama police warn of suspicious individuals targeting children

Police in Saitama Prefecture have issued warnings regarding suspicious individuals targeting children in the Iwatsuki Ward of Saitama City. On September 3, 2026, an incident occurred in Higashi-Iwatsuki 4-chome where a female, part of a group of six individuals aged approximately 18 to 20, directed a smartphone at an elementary school boy.

This follows a similar incident on August 28, 2026, in the Uenoji area, where an elementary school girl was followed by a man who also directed a smartphone at her. Authorities are advising parents to instruct children to flee, seek help, use crime prevention buzzers, or shout if they feel in danger, and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.