OSAKA/TOKYO -- As bicycles gain popularity as an alternative to Japan's crowded trains and buses amid the coronavirus, thieves are homing in on electric bike batteries as a quick way to make some extra cash.
Coronavirus
Japan's ebike craze spawns spate of battery theft
Growing demand and easy resale options drive cases to record highs
A security officer rides an electric bicycle through the grounds of Osaka Castle. The prefecture had seen 338 cases of bicycle battery theft as of October. © Reuters
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