Footage of a man believed to be a rape suspect who escaped from an Osaka Prefecture police station earlier this week was captured by a security camera outside the facility about 30 minutes after he met with his lawyer there, investigative sources said Friday.

Junya Hida, 30, disappeared from Tondabayashi police station in the suburbs of Osaka after his 30-minute meeting with the lawyer through 8 p.m. Sunday and the roadside security camera installed on the south side of the station showed a man matching his appearance and clothing at the time walking east at around 8:30 p.m.

Hida has been indicted on charges of rape, theft as well as robbery resulting in injury. He was served a fresh arrest warrant last week on a charge of attempted rape.

Hida is believed to have escaped by kicking down the acrylic partition in the meeting room and leaving through the same entrance the lawyer had used. A police officer found the meeting room empty at around 9:45 p.m.

The police suspect Hida had planned his escape beforehand. He told the lawyer that he would notify police officers of the end of their meeting so the lawyer did not have to tell them, even though lawyers are asked to do so when they leave the room.

Officers at the station were not aware that their meeting was over for a while as Hida's lawyer left without telling them.

The meeting room alarm is supposed to beep when a lawyer opens the door but it was not functioning at the time because the batteries were not installed, as officers thought the device unnecessary since visiting lawyers usually notify police when they leave.

At the time, two police officers were placed at the detention cell on the second floor of the station, but no one was in the room next to the meeting room, as is usual during the night and on weekends.

According to the sources, a series of purse snatchings have been reported since Monday in the vicinity in the city of Habikino as well as southern parts of Osaka.

Before becoming a fugitive, Hida was also indicted over similar nighttime snatchings in the cities of Osaka, Yao and elsewhere.

The police suspect Hida has been stealing money while on the run and are continuing a manhunt with some 3,000 personnel.

(Tondabayashi police station)