A 61-year-old ex-police officer, who is currently working for a local police box (koban) as an adviser, was arrested on Wednesday for shoplifting at a supermarket in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture. A 49-year-old female security guard suffered slight injuries to her arms and knees while she was trying to arrest him, police said.
Masayuki Ito was arrested for allegedly stealing some food products worth 2,400 yen at the supermarket around 5:50 p.m. According to police, the female security guard spotted him shoplifting and chased him after he exited the store without paying. Police said Ito fled on foot, leaving his car at the car park, after he assaulted her. He was arrested after his wife came to the car park to pick up the car.
Ito retired from the Metropolitan Police Department in March after a 40-year-long career. He has since been working as an adviser for a neighborhood police box.
Ito was quoted by police as saying, “I wanted to try shoplifting after I saw a TV program on the various ways that people shoplift.”
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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timorborder
Stupid old codger. 40 years of service down the drain.
fatloser
A well meaning old codger?? Good intentions, but misplaced manners?? An uncouth old thief?? Has the NPA lost it's senses?? He could have contacted the store manager and arranged a test. A nice new excuse "I was training for..." It's only been used twice this week!!
thepro
He should have just joined the light saber jiji squad like the rest of the old timers society forgets. Surely there's a lightbulb being changed out there by somebody that needs supervision.
BlackFlag
aaah, the old "i was doing research line" worked for pete townsend, maybe this 'un will get away with it too.
DenshaDeGO
How ironic. 40 years of heisting peoples tax money and he gets arrested for a lousy ¥2400
fatloser
He injured a security guard too...during...his....research!
humptydumpty
Yuk! I can just imagine him being so violent with the poor security guard to get away! Old stinky men in Japan are so violent with females! What I dont understand is when Japanese ppl are caught for something..they always tell the blunt truth! Why didnt he just say 'i was actually going to the car to get my wallet to pay for it but accidentally was still carrying the food..' simple my friends!
spiderman
Now that's the quote of the day.
FrEcKlEfAcE
Why does a Koban need advisers?
BBLeo
Well, certainly he was thinking that being former cop, he is still above the justice. In my view something must be wrong with him, and he need a 'shrink.'
Dennis Bauer
I gues he forgot the whole upholding the law bit
gaijintraveller
He was arrested for shoplifting. Why wasn't he also arrested for assault, which, I would have thought, is more serious.
chibaman
It's important for people to have interests. Anyway, I blame the "don't try this at home but please watch our show" show. That and living in Chiba which will make you resort to crime to add a bit of spice in your life. Spice from the supermarket.
kjunluc2
****I'm sorry, your orneriness. The line at check-out was tooo long and I was dang nigh starved to death. Besides, the security guard planted some of that stuff on me.
usaexpat
I had a neighbor like that when I was growing up. The guy had a lot of money (sold a compnay and retired with several million dollars) but got a buzz off stealing veggies from the neighbors' gardens. I always thought it was funny myself but I'm betting in the case of the supermarket they weren't laughing. Do you think he'll now become an advisor to the super on how to catch shoplifting retirees?
kjunluc2
These places have so many cameras they make you paranoid. I'm scared to reach for my wallet for discount card; afraid they'll think I'm stuffing something in my pocket.
Anyway, theft is theft and deserves harsh punishment.
mrhog123
Guess he needs to go back to jail because he the wife of a yakuza boss and needed some lovin.