crime

19-year-old commits drive-by purse snatching with 12-yr-old accomplice

11 Comments

Police said Friday they have arrested a 19-year-old youth for stealing a woman's purse in the street in Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Police say the youth, who lives in Hiratsuka, was riding in a car with a 12-year-old accomplice, whom he coerced into committing the theft on Thursday.

According to a TBS report, the car approached the 64-year-old woman from behind as she was walking home, at which point the elementary school sixth grader allegedly snatched the woman's bag, containing around 25,000 yen in cash.

During police questioning, the younger boy reportedly told investigators they had done the same thing before, TBS reported.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

11 Comments
Login to comment

I`m glad they caught the kid(s) responsible, and hopefully the woman got at least some of the contents back. As to the 12 year old, not sure what they can do with him.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

2 misguided youths??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The age difference is so big that I don't think the younger one had much choice of helping the older one.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The young one just wanted to try to be big like the 19 year old.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

hameln: "The age difference is so big that I don't think the younger one had much choice of helping the older one."

It's possible, particularly if the relationship between the boys is older/younger brother. I'd say it's more likely, though, that the younger boy just felt a bond (kizuna?) with the older boy through the acts, and instead of having any idea of the gravity of what he was doing, found it fun and exciting (and was at first duped into doing it as such). I'm sure he knew it was wrong, but really no concept of what he was doing to the people he's been helping to hurt. And he gets a bonus! probably a small share of the money in the form of some McD's shaka-shaka chicken and some game cards!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

thank the lucky stars that this is all that happened. That old lady could have gotten pulled under the car as well. Stupid morons!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Robbing a 64 year old woman...what a couple of cowards esp. the 19 year old

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I repeat the same question I asked before: the 19-year old is old enough to drive a car (presumably without a license as well) and be the brains of snatching hand bags.

But the same 19-year old cannot be named and tried in court because he is a minor?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But the same 19-year old cannot be named and tried in court because he is a minor?

And he can legally be a father too - that is even scarier!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This was/is common down here too. A nurse we know, in her 60s, had gone to a party of some kind and on the way to the station had her handbag snatched in this manner. She had just taken off a couple of expensive rings and put them in her handbag, so she hung on! She got all banged up, but lost the bag anyway, I felt so sorry for her.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For corrupting the 12-year old, the 19-year old should be charged as an adult.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites