They don't have checkpoints but they have little police stations every few blocks; so they are acutely aware of what's going on and who's now got a bike that he

They don't have checkpoints but they have little police stations every few blocks; so they are acutely aware of what's going on and who's now got a bike that he didn't have yesterday. It's expensive, and someone might argue it's oppressive to have police so close at all times, but it's a key element of Japanese policing - and the low rate of crime in the country is definitely affected (somehow) by such policing.