Japanese authorities are searching for an Asiatic black bear that is suspected of breaking into homes at least 14 times in the past two weeks in a small Japanese town, stealing food from residents' refrigerators.

The latest case was recorded on Monday evening, when 87-year-old Mitsuo Matsubara heard noises in the kitchen of his home. When he went to see what was happening, he was confronted by a large black bear. The elderly man saw that the refrigerator was open, while food was scattered on the floor. He immediately notified his wife, who called the police. According to authorities, this was the 14th case reported in the city of Shizuoka in just two weeks, raising suspicions that the same bear is behind all the incidents.

To prevent further attacks, authorities have set up traps, electric fences near vulnerable homes and special patrols to warn residents. "It is unusual for a bear to repeatedly return to the same area. It is possible that it is the same animal and we want to catch it as soon as possible," said wildlife specialist Shiho Chida.

Security cameras have recorded some of the bear's movements. In one case, it was filmed trying to open a sliding door to a house at night, but it left after the owner started yelling at it. In another incident, a resident returned from the supermarket to find the bear inside the house, near the room where his elderly father was sleeping. The man managed to scare the animal away by slamming a door, but then had to hold the door closed for about 30 seconds while the bear tried to re-enter the apartment.

A night later, a woman found the bear in her kitchen, and on Sunday the animal entered a pastry shop and stole pancakes from the refrigerator. Experts say Japan has seen a rise in bear incidents in recent years. They say that shrinking rural populations and expanding animal habitats have caused bears to lose their fear of humans and increasingly venture into residential areas in search of food.