One bizarre thing that I noticed in this newspaper is the recurrence of stories about police impersonators who detain passersby in the streets and then steal their cash and belongings. These two public service announcements from February and December 1943, respectively, warn the public about them, but only the one from December has any real concrete advice for anyone who encounters them: call the nearest police station when someone is using police business cards to shoplift and dine for free, and ask to be accompanied to the police station when a fake policeman handcuffs you. If the fake policeman refuses to take you to the police station, then that is probably a tip-off that the policeman is not real.

Who were these police impersonators? I could think of three possibilities: They were (1) corrupt police officers; (2) common criminals; and/or (3) political activists who were raising funds for the overthrow of the colonial regime. It would be interesting to look into these possibilities further and see what the historical evidence says.

Other crimes that were mentioned are ‘strong-arm robberies and obscene acts committed during wartime light dimming’. In wartime Imperial Japan, citizens practiced light dimming exercises during nighttime to make it more difficult for enemy warplanes to navigate, but all that darkness apparently made things easier for thieves and rapists.

By December 1943, the police were increasing reliant on Patriotic Groups (JP: aikoku-han, KR: aeguk-ban, 愛國班) for policing. They were neighborhood cells which functioned as the local arm of the Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹). Every Korean living in Korea belonged to a Patriotic Group. It typically consisted of a few households, led by a Patriotic Group leader, who normally acted as a mini-tyrant micromanaging the lives of everyone within the Patriotic Group. That included things like rationing food and goods, enforcing mandatory State Shinto prayer times and shrine visits, ‘volunteering’ laborers upon the colonial regime’s request, arranging marriages, holding mandatory Japanese language classes, spying on each other, etc.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 7, 1943

Fake Police Officers Feeding on “Darkness”

We are determined to exterminate them!

Interview with Police Chief Isozaki

Recently, there has been a relative increase in the number of malicious violations against strong economic controls which were put in place in response to the war. In addition, fake police officers have been taking advantage of this detestable trend by appearing frequently, exploiting the weaknesses of violators by imposing fines and confiscating money and illicit goods. The Police Department of the Governor-General’s Office has decided to crack down on this situation by bringing down the iron hammer upon these unscrupulous criminals who are running rampant. On February 6th, an interview with Police Chief Isozaki was released, in which he vowed the firm determination of his police department.

The Governor-General’s Office also made it clear that it would take this opportunity to take severe measures against unscrupulous criminals who dishonor the prestige of police officers by pretending to be police officers or their assistants and forcing people to give them priority in the distribution of hard-to-obtain goods.

Interview with Police Chief Isozaki

It is truly chilling to see that the number of economic crimes has been increasing day by day as a result of the recent tightening of economic controls, which has led to an ever-increasing police crackdown.

However, the unscrupulous criminals skillfully targeted windows of opportunity amid these social trends of tightening regulations and increasing numbers of violations, taking advantage of them by playing various schemes. Various malicious cases have been frequently reported in which various vendors and offenders are exploited by taking advantage of their psychological vulnerabilities to extract preferential distribution of hard-to-obtain goods. The unscrupulous criminals pose as or openly misrepresent themselves as economic police officers or their assistants to seize money or illicit goods under the guise of collecting fines or confiscating illicit goods. As a result, the public often hears complaints about the arbitrariness and brutality of police officers, which is regrettable.

The police department sees such malicious crimes not only as crimes against the victims, but also as crimes that compromise the prestige of the police and disturb law enforcement. In addition to the various types of enforcement actions that are already in place, we will adopt a strict policy of severe punishment against fraudulent acts committed while posing as government officials, and we will make firm and thorough efforts to arrest and suppress such criminals.

In addition, the police themselves should prepare to deal with the secret activities of such criminals by taking measures to prove that they are real police officers whenever they engage in various types of enforcement activities in plain clothes. When using assistants, special guidance and supervision should be given. We hope that the public will fully understand these points and be vigilant not to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous criminals. In addition, if you are under any kind of enforcement action conducted by a person claiming to be a police officer or law enforcement official, please make sure to carefully confirm that the person on the other end is indeed a real police officer or a real law enforcement official. We sincerely hope that you will not be taken for a ride by these unscrupulous criminals.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-02-07

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) December 10, 1943

Eradicating Crime in December

A message from Gyeonggi Provincial Police Chief Mr. Oka

In an effort to prevent the occurrence of crimes at the end of the year, including economic crimes committed due to the difficulty of obtaining all kinds of goods, and to make this year’s holiday season a happy one, Gyeonggi Provincial Police Chief Oka issued the following message, requesting the cooperation of the general public:

In mid-December every year, the police departments of Gyeonggi Province, with the cooperation of Patriotic Group members, have been making every effort to prevent crimes at the end of the year. This year is coming to an end amid this pathetically harsh war situation. It is deeply concerning that, as economic controls have been tightened, the difficulty in obtaining daily necessities has inevitably increased the public’s appetite for goods. In conjunction with this, there has been an increasing trend in all kinds of malicious crimes. At the end of the year, when the purchasing power of the general public is strong, malicious crimes are usually committed in various fields. Economic criminals may commit crimes that disrupt economic controls on the home front, including some traders who are guilty of price gouging, profiteering, hoarding, and cheating in weights and measures. Consumers may also disrupt economic controls on the home front. There is no end to the number of consumers who are using their year-end bonuses and other unexpected income for panic buying and hoarding instead of cooperating in the implementation of national policies, such as saving and purchasing war bonds.

In addition, recent trends such as fraudulent acts to facilitate the purchase of such illicit goods, break-ins at night, thefts, and strong-arm robberies have been increasing as the year-end draws near. Recently, we have witnessed the emergence of malicious crimes such as so-called fake detectives who run rampant, physically searching the bodies of passersby and stealing their cash or threatening to commit fraud. This autumn, in this decisive battle, we are all pushing forward with the reinforcement of our military power on the home front. In order to exterminate such criminals who disturb the stability of the people’s lives, we will launch an early enforcement action this year. In addition to our efforts to thoroughly investigate and arrest these unscrupulous criminals, those who dare to commit crimes, such as strong-arm robberies and obscene acts committed during wartime light dimming, will be punished with particularly severe penalties in accordance with the Law Concerning Special Provisions for the Punishment of Wartime Crimes.

Needless to say, it is extremely difficult to prevent all kinds of crimes, no matter how strictly the police officers alone exercise control and vigilance, and so we must rely on the righteous cooperation of all members of the Patriotic Groups. I sincerely hope that each household will be more devoted to the true meaning of wartime life, that you will exercise self-restraint and refrain from ugly behavior including panic buying and hoarding at the end of the year, and that you will fully practice the guidelines regarding home security that were announced for Patriotic Group members in December, so that you can live a clear and solid wartime life at the end of the year without any impurities and greet the third new year of the Greater East Asia War with hope shining in your hearts. [Photo: Police Chief Mr. Oka]

Cooperation in Crime Prevention is Desired

A message from Yongsan Police Chief Mr. Wakita

As the year draws to a close, crimes that disrupt the stability of life during wartime, such as burglary, snatching, breaking and entering, and illicit trafficking of wartime necessities, are on the rise. This December, the Yongsan Police Department is making every effort to ensure that all members of the department are perfectly prepared to prevent crime and ensure a pleasant end of the year. On December 9th, Yongsan Police Chief Mr. Wakita requested the cooperation of Seoul residents in actively self-policing and eradicating wartime crimes, as follows:

The end of the year usually sees a conspicuous increase in the movement of cash, and the psychologically vulnerable who are involved in it are taken advantage of by the unscrupulous criminals who are always on the lookout all year for a chance to make money. What attracts particular attention these days are their increasingly sophisticated methods. They use counterfeit business cards to impersonate detectives and then eat, drink, and enjoy entertainment without paying. They also swindle merchandise. Most serious of all, they use handcuffs to restrain passersby and seize money from them after physically searching them. Economic crimes are also on the rise, not only among open air street vendors, but also among those who have set up stores trafficking black market goods to take advantage of the increased demand for New Year’s goods. I believe that burglaries and thefts can be largely prevented through vigilance on the part of Seoul residents. To avoid being victimized, I would like to ask you to take the following two points into consideration, especially at the end of the year:

Real detectives do not show their business cards and then shoplift, eat, drink, and enjoy entertainment without paying. If you see such a suspicious person in the future, immediately report him to the nearest police station. Similarly, if a criminal is wielding binding rope or handcuffs, it is essential that you always ask to be accompanied to the police station, and that you remain calm and timely in reporting the incident.

Next, as for the prevention of economic crimes, first of all, each of you must remember the hardships of the generals on the front lines and never purchase unnecessary goods to welcome the New Year. There are some who criticize black market prices, but who themselves are good at black-market buying. In general, if you are aware of black market prices, black market deliveries, or unauthorized distribution of goods, please feel free to report them to us without hesitation. The police will take a strictly punitive approach against these insolent people who are indifferent to the current war situation, and will work to stabilize the lives of Seoul residents.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-12-10

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年2月7日

”闇”を喰う偽警察官

断乎一掃に乗出す

磯崎警務課長談

戦争に対応する強力な経済統制を蹂躙。最近悪質の手段を弄した経済違反が比較的に増加。またこの憎むべき傾向を悪用して一方には偽警察官がしきりに出没し、違反者の弱点に乗じて罰金、没収などに名を藉り、金品や違反物件をまきあげるなどの不徳漢が横行しているので、総督府警務局では断乎これを一掃。鉄槌を下すことになり、六日磯崎警務課長談を発表。当局の断乎たる決意を表明した。

さらに総督府では、これを機に警察官或いは補助者の如く装って入手難物資の優先的配給を強要して警察官の威信を汚す不良徒輩に対しても厳罰主義を以て臨む旨を明かにした。

磯崎警務課長談

最近経済統制の強化により警察の取締はますます拡大強化せられ、これに伴い各種の経済事犯も日を逐うて増加の傾向にあることはまことに寒心に堪えない次第である。

然るにこのような取締の強化、違反の蔟出というが如き社会情勢の間隙を狙いつつあった不良徒輩は巧みにこれに便乗して種々なる奸計を弄し、取締を受ける各種業者や違反者の心理的弱点に乗じて経済取締の警察官、若しくはその補助者の如く装い、或いは公然とこれを詐称して入手難物資の優先的配給を受けたり、或いは違反者の弱点に乗じ罰金没収などに名を藉りて所持金や違反物件を奪取したりする各種の悪質事案が随所に頻発しつつある。そのため民衆より警察官の専恣、横暴の声を頻々と耳に致すのはまことに遺憾とするところである。

当局と致してはかかる悪質犯罪がただに被害者に対する侵害であるのみならず、これがため官の威信を失墜し取締の秩序を紊すこと極めて大なるものであるのに鑑み、今後各種の取締と併行し、これら官名詐称による不正行為に対しては厳罰主義を以て臨み断乎として検挙強圧の徹底を期する方針である。

また警察自身においてはかかる不良徒輩の暗躍に備えて、警察官が私服をもって各種取締に従事する場合は、必ず警察官たることを証明する措置を講ぜしめ、補助者などを使用する場合は、特に格別なる指導監督を加うる筈であるから、一般におかれてもこの点充分の理解を願うと共にかかる不良徒輩に乗ぜられることのなきよう自戒せらるるは勿論、万一警察官若しくは取締当局者と自称する者より、各種の取締を受くるが如き場合は、必ず相手方が真の警察官であり、取締当局者であることを慎重に確認せられ、不良徒輩に乗ぜられるが如きことのなきよう特に切望して已まぬ次第である。

京城日報　1943年12月10日

師走の犯罪撲滅へ

京畿道岡警察部長語る

年末における各犯罪の発生は勿論あらゆる物資の入手難による経済事犯の発生を未然に防止し、今年こそは明るい年末を送ろうと京畿道岡警察部長は次の如き談話を発表し、一般道民の協力を要望した。

例年十二月中旬より道内各警察署の総力を挙げ、愛国班員各位の御協力を得て歳末時の犯罪の予防警戒に努めて来たのでありますが、本年も亦凄愴苛烈な戦局の裡に年末を迎え、熟々世相を案じますに経済統制が強化徹底せらるるに伴い、生活必需物資の入手難は必然的に一般民衆の物欲を旺盛にし、之と結びつき各種の統済事犯益々増加の傾向に有りまするのみならず、年末に於いては一般購買力の旺盛なるに乗じ各方面に悪質事犯が敢行せらるるを常とし、先ず経済事犯としては一部業者の価格違反を初め暴利、売惜、規格量目の誤魔化し等銃後の経済統制を攪乱する犯罪発生の虞ある一面消費者側におきましても年末賞与等の不時の収入を貯蓄債券の消化等国策の遂行に協力せらるることなく物資の買占め、買い漁りに狂奔せる向も跡を断たないのであります。

又最近の傾向としては之等物資の購入斡旋に藉口する詐欺行為、夜間の忍び込み、窃盗乃至は強力事犯等歳末の切迫と共に益々増加し、尚最近所謂偽刑事が横行し、妄りに通行者の身体を検索して所持金を巻き上げ或いは詐欺脅迫する等の悪質犯罪の発生を見つつある状勢にありますが、この決戦下斉しく銃後の戦力増強に邁進しつつあります秋。之が基調をなす国民生活の安定を阻害する之等事犯の絶滅を期しまする為、本年は特に早目に取締警戒を開始し、之等不良徒輩の徹底的検挙に努むるは勿論灯火管制下に於ける強窃盗、猥褻等の事犯を敢行したる者は戦時犯罪処罰の特例に関する法令に依り特に厳罰を以て処断する方針であります。

申す迄もなく各種犯罪の予防は独り警察官のみが如何に取締乃至は警戒を厳重に致しましても到底其の万全を期することは至難でありまして、愛国班各位の道義に立脚した御協力に俟たなければならないのでありますから、各家庭におかれては此の際一層戦時生活の真義に徹せられ、お互いに自粛自戒して従来の歳末風景たる買占め、買い漁りの醜状の一掃に努めらるると共に十二月愛国班員の実践事項として示達されましたる家庭防犯に関する各事項を充分実践せられ、以て一点の穢れなき明朗堅実なる歳末の戦時生活を営みつつ希望に輝く大東亜戦争下第三回目の新春を迎えられんことを切望して已みません。【写真＝岡警察部長】

防犯へ協力望む

脇田龍山署長は語る

年の暮れをひかえて空き巣、掻っ払い、忍び込みをはじめ戦時必需品の不正売買など決戦生活の安定を紊す犯罪が激増の一途を辿る傾向にあり、龍山署ではこの師走にあたり全署員水も洩らさぬ防犯完璧の布陣に遺憾なきを期して年末の明朗化に努めているが、九日脇田龍山署長は歳末時防犯に関して次の如く府民の積極的自警と戦時犯罪根絶の協力を要望した。

『例年歳末期には現金の動きが目立って多くなり、これに携わる人達の心の緩みを狙って不逞徒輩が年中の稼ぎ時として鵜の目鷹の目で横行。最近では特に注意を惹くのは方法が巧妙化して居ることで、たとえば刑事肩書の名刺を偽造使用して無銭飲食遊興したり、商品を騙取したり、甚だしいのは捕縄手錠を使って通行人を束縛し、身体検査の上金銭を奪取する類である。経済事犯についても露店行商人のみならず店舗を構えながら正月用物資の需要増加につけ込んで闇の横行が増加の傾向にある。空き巣や窃盗の犯罪は府民各位の自警によって大部分予防出来ると思うから、特に年末に際しては次の二点に留意して、各自の被害を予防して戴きたい。

偽刑事の防止であるが、之は真の刑事は名刺を見せたりして無銭購買、遊興飲食はしない。若し今後こういう不審な者が居たら、見付け次第直ちに最寄りの派出所に届け出ることである。同じく捕縄や手錠を振り廻す者に対しては必ず派出所まで同行を要求し沈着を失わず届け出の時機を失わぬことが肝要だ。

次に経済事犯の防止については先ず各自が前線将兵の労苦を偲んで正月を迎えるために不必要な物資を絶対に購入しないことで、中には闇値を非難しながら自身が得意然と闇買いをする者を見受けるが、一般は闇値、闇搬入、不正配給等の事実を現認したら遠慮なくどしどし告発して戴きたい。警察はこれらの時局を弁えざる不埒者に対しては厳罰主義でのぞみ、府民生活の安定を期するものである』