Children's slides, incense holders from cemeteries and even the roof of a public toilet have disappeared in a spate of metal robberies in Japan prompted by surging steel and copper prices.
Last year, there were about 5,700 such robberies in Japan causing damages worth some 2 billion yen (£9 million) and the number of cases is rising, media reports say, citing the National Police Agency.
There were four incidents of metals robberies on Sunday alone, including the theft of 550 kilograms of copper wire worth some 330,000 yen in Gifu prefecture, central Japan, media say.
Last month, thieves stole two stainless steel slides from parks in Saitama prefecture neighbouring Tokyo.
"There were bolts scattered around the area, and the steps for the slides were left behind," a town official said.
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