2 men arrested for stealing from Fukushima exclusion zone

I thought that was considered looting.

Hey look! Two more 'volunteers' to clean debris around the Daiichi nuclear plant. Sent them in working without the protective suits.

I think if theyve been hanging around in the exclusion zone the job is already done Gurukun. Wonder if theyll feel the money was worth it 10-20 years from now?

2 pendejos from Hiroshima go stealing to Fukushima?? They should be ashamed of themselves!

Disgusting these two should be ashamed of themselves.

Should be charged with attempted murder. Objects looted would have fatal does of radiation. They intend to sell them. Imprision them in the 20 km zone.

Make their punishment 2 years of community service "cleaning up" within the 20km zone.

Not a word about the stolen items being contaminated…pathetic.....

Not a word about the stolen items being contaminated…pathetic.....

If they were inside (and in drawers, etc) it is unlikely that they would be contaminated. Sadly too, they are unlikely to have been there long enough to have caught lethal doses, but the idea of making them clean up the exclusion zone seems fair!

The article makes it sound like it is an isolated incident. I bet there are tons of people looting out there. Some organized, some not.

Not only that, they give radiation to us unsuspecting consumers. You buy an item from Osaka and you think its safe. Test for radiation on every item. Especially cars. A Fukuoka car was tested to have high level of radiation. Traced to Fukushima. Dealers along the way changed the name and address of users three times until it finally was sold as a Fukuoka regsitered product

who called themselves second-hand dealers

No doubt they drive around in trucks full of bicycles and other junk, offering to take junk over a loud speaker as they drive through neighborhoods (except when stealing in Fukushima). I am surprised the government has not cracked down on them with strict licensing requirements, inspections and created a system of paper trails. I always suspected those guys as I heard stories from country obasan of items sitting outside magically disappearing.

I wonder how these were caught?

As I mentioned in one of my previous post, looting in the heavily contaminated, restricted and barely surveyed area entails the danger that the contaminated loot is sold and gets into circulation by not only posing great health risk but can be used for criminal purposes too. A very dark future, considering the tons of loot already out.

Maybe for a week or so, they should tied up outside the shelters where their victims are living - that way the victims can go out and abuse these scumbags when they want to.

Better, allow "Public Stoning" - But only give large stones to the victims they stole from.

@TokyoGas

I guess you got a thumbs down from a Japanese/Foreign Japan lover. I thumbed you up because you are right - the truth hurts dude!

At least they caught these guys. I suspect there are many more cases that go unnoticed due to the nature of the zone the people are looting in.

Anyway, for looters they sure didn't seem to get much. Hope they get stiff sentences, though.

Actually it's not looting. It's robbery. The definition of looting is "plundering during riots or in wartime".

I think stealing from damaged or abandoned premises after a natural disaster qualifies as looting. That's what the Americans called it after Katrina. Be that as it may, by all means, give them shovels and paper masks and set them digging up radioactive rubbish. I wonder what Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Shimane police had to do with this.

absolutely disgusting to take advantage of people who are going through this. I hope they get the harshest punishment possible.

How dispicable, nasty little pair of thieves, I hope anyone who has purchased items from their shop will check to ensure their purchases are bonafide and if not hand them over to the police.

Hopefully karma will come back around.

Indeed this is looting. You should expect to see the bugs, termites, roaches, and rats sneaking upon the house while you're away.

Hang 'em. Getting sick of all the looting in Tohoku - punish them to deter all the other would-be looters I say.

i guess they are not the only ones. its a shame. just like take the cesium-infected meat in the fukushima area and sell it on the west side of japan. how can people make benefit of those things? zurukashkoi

Just another example of http://badboyinjapan.blogspot.com/2011/03/looting-in-japan-yes-its-true-end-of.html

When does "looting" expire and become theft...from people suffering...a lot?

they earn 2 points as scavengers In Fallout (now seriously weren't they scared of radiation I mean what you steal is not worth it if you die)

Going for the copper wire is a very homeless thing to do.