Police said Friday they have arrested an 81-year-old man for attempted theft after he tried to steal a purse from an elderly woman's handbag at Tokyo Station.
According to police, the suspect, identified as Shigekazu Shibagaki, has been arrested for pickpocketing more than 20 times and spent 46 years in prison for his numerous offenses, Fuji TV reported. Police said he currently has no fixed address and was released from prison in February.
In the latest incident, police said that Shibagaki, who they know as "Hiraba no Shige-san," put his hand into an 81-year-old woman's bag while she was shopping, but was caught in the act by station police.
He was quoted by police as saying he can't stop himself from pickpocketing, especially when he needs money and because he is too old to get a job, Fuji TV reported. When caught, he had 150,000 in cash on him.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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GW
stupid old geezer doesnt even know when he is ahead of the game!
JonathanJo
You can take the bag out of Shi-bag-aki, but not the Shibagaki out of the bag.
nath
So in his 81 years of life, he spent more than half of it in jail, take 17 years off it (he was fist caught around the of age of 17), he has spent 18 years if his "adult life" out of jail.
I guess he considers jail his home more than the outside world, and may be unconsciously (or even consciously) wanting to go back.
paulinusa
Japanese people must be some of the easiest marks to pickpocket. Sleeping, unsuspecting, completely unaware, etc.
Tahoochi
@Elvensilvan: You may be right. Since he has no fixed address, he probably likes to have a roof over his head, and 3 meals a day even if it's in prison. Personally though, I think what they should do guys like this is what they do in Saudi Arabia... chop his hands off!
Disillusioned
So, he spent 46 years in prison and still picks pockets? Says a lot for the rehabilitation program in Japanese jails, doesn't it?
nath
This made my day. just let him go. Give him counseling. it's obvious that he is a kleptomaniac and he is 81 come on.
jonobugs
I can't help but feel sorry for him....
Hide Suzuki
@Disillusioned
"Says a lot for the rehabilitation program in Japanese jails, doesn't it?"
So you make a generalization to the entire prison system based on one career criminal which you find in any country ?
WilliB
Why doesn´t the ward office just give him a job? That would keep him busy and let him live out his last years. Would be a lot cheaper than letting him occupy court time and prison space. He get a red light stick and direct traffic in the parking lot, like so many others do as occupational therapy here.
tmarie
This made my day. just let him go. Give him counseling. it's obvious that he is a kleptomaniac and he is 81 come on.
So others can be robbed by him? I don't care how old he is. Charge his and lock him up. How much money has this man stole from hardworking innocent people?
Why doesn´t the ward office just give him a job? Why should they? Why should he be rewarded for his behaviour when other people, qualified people, could be hired instead?
The guy has enough cash on him to get an address and start selling "The Big Issue". Seems robbing people is just much easier for him. No sympathy for him at all. He should be used as an example to people who aren't paying their pension and health care fees!
garomakaikishi
lol let him go he is 81
saru_au
help him and everyone out, put him back in jail for life
Roger Goetz
Start choppin the little piggies off. That'll learn em...
Ranger_Miffy2
If someone stole hard earned money from my wallet in Tokyo station, I'd be plenty upset. I do NOT CARE what his/her age is. Keep yer mitts off my personal fortune.
Tom Webb
Homeless old boy wants to go home and free meals courtesy of prison system.
nath
@tmarie
yeah, ok so we send this 81 year old man to jail so now he can take our money legally. he cost more money in jail than out of jail.
A. he is not very good, did you see his arrest record? So people need to just stop being s naive and watch your pocket.
We should make him a joke, plaster his face on tv and have him as a regular gag on a variety show.