Chiba prefectural police said Friday that about ¥790,000 was stolen from high school students’ wallets left in four unlocked classrooms while they attended their graduation ceremony at their school in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, on Thursday.
According to police and school officials, the thefts occurred during a two-hour period while the graduation ceremony was taking place in the gymnasium at Nippon Sport Science University Kashiwa High School from 9:30 a.m., TV Asahi reported.
A school official called police at around 12 noon after students noticed that cash had been taken from their wallets when they returned to the classrooms.
School officials said that with the number of visitors and family members attending the graduation ceremony, anyone could have easily entered the classrooms.
© Japan Today
35 Comments
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Elvis is here
If the culprit was wearing a mask, they'll have a hard time tracking him / her down.
TrevorPeace
Exactly what was the sane reason the kids were forced to leave their wallets in their classrooms? That's just plain dumb. Actually, it's dumber than dumb.
Lindsay
This made me laugh. You obviously have never been into a high school in Kashiwa. The cameras would be in the girl’s toilets.
smithinjapan
Time to dole out for lockers. And even without them, the classrooms should have been locked or students allowed to at least carry come things with them. What's the school going to do for those who lost something? "Oops! Sorry! We'll lock the door next time. Tough luck for you!"
garypen
Why would people leave their wallets unattended like that? I know this is "safe Japan" and all that. But, leaving one's wallet unattended is just plain unwise.
I know that victim-blaming is usually wrong. But, yeah, in this particular instance, the victims do deserve at least some of the blame.
Sven Asai
They have more in the wallet on average than me! lol
Shivaji
Most Japanese people have at least 10000 yen on them.
garypen
Carrying large sums of cash is becoming less common, particularly among younger people, due to smartphone payment apps and credit/cash cards.
wallace
Stupid is stupid. I would have put my money in my pocket. The school should reimburse them for their lack of protection of personal property. Stealing from kids. How low some people get.
wallace
Many Japanese carry at least ¥100,000 in cash.
Stephen Chin
Must have been the work of klepto-staff or klepto-students of the college.
daikaka
People on this forum underestimate the wealth of average Japanese. Most Japanese are significantly wealthier than the expats, with massive amounts of cash assets.
Mark
THIS NOT a visitor job, this is an INSIDER job.
wallace
People carry cash in case of an earthquake.
Shivaji
@garypen
Most Japanese will have around 10000 JPY at the start of day in case of emergencies because Japanese still prefer to use cash in many situations. I always carry around 10000 JPY in cash even though I rarely pay by cash nowadays.
garypen
Many older Japanese, perhaps.
garypen
Because of the incredibly high salaries? (sarcasm alert)
wallace
garypen
I think more than just old people.
Yubaru
Another example of difficulties with reading comprehension or probably not reading the article in the first place and commenting.
Yubaru
Have no idea where you are living but down here, aint no way! Some maybe, MOST, aint no way! That's over 50% of their monthly pay for here, on average, and their aint no emergency THAT expensive!
Please stop with the over generalization comments, or maybe a couple people you know, and extrapolating that to include "most" Japanese. We all dont live in that world, and not Tokyo either!
Yubaru
Oh and btw, if any average or "typical" salaryman here carried that much cash in their wallets, their wives would wack them upside the head with a cast iron fry pan!
Shivaji
In what part of Japan is 10000 JPY over 50% of their monthly pay?
Martimurano
Of course they should be able to leave their cash and belongings safely on the school premises - it's shocking that someone has stolen these things, and when the culprits are found, they must be made to reimburse every single yen, and made to apologise to each and every victim, nothing less will be acceptable.
Who do they think they are, that they can remove these things which patently do not belong to them.
garypen
I wouldn't consider 10,000円 to be a lot of cash. I also tend to carry at least 5000円 even though I, too, rarely pay by cash.
I would imagine that 10,000円 might be a bit on the high side for the average teenager's day-to-day pocket money, though. Also, the average PT worker may not be in a position to carry 10,000 or so around on a daily basis, either.
garypen
You need to look at that number again, and double-check the number of zeroes you probably think you saw the first time.
Mocheake
A lot of Japanese swear this stuff only happens in gaikoku. It happens here all the time, it's just not reported as much. Never let your guard down and always keep your cash on your person in one of your front pockets, preferably your shirt pocket.
Strangerland
Twenty-five years I never heard a Japanese person state that once. Twenty-five years I have heard many, many foreigners make such claims about Japanese people....
deanzaZZR
These kids carry around more cash than I do. If the doors can't be locked think of a better option. geez
Yubaru
This is what I saw, and replied to the other post. My mistake, I agree ¥10,000 isnt that much, but 10 times that is ridiculous. But it's codified with "many" so easy to answer either way.
Three goals
Japanese tend to carry a lot more cash on them compared to Westerners. Not big on debit cards and credit cards. Cash is king! Things are changing and paying with apps on phones is getting popular. Shame they didn't see the potential of theft. Big events invite the opportunity for a crime to occur.
uaintseeme
Someone mentioned cameras in an earlier comment; NOPE. Maybe at the school's entrance but that's about it. Japanese never expect these types of crimes to happen until it happens, then they're surprised.