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The city of Tomakomai in Hokkaido Prefecture is a generally peaceful place where beautiful nature and thriving industry exist in harmony. However, that peace was shook on the morning of Dec 21 when a one-man raid took place at a shopping center in the city.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., a man wearing a ski mask approached the section of the second floor of the mall where the capsule toy machines were located. He then proceeded to pick up one of the machines which measured one meter in height and contained 141 super balls and 1,800 yen in coins.
The man started to head towards a corridor that connected the shopping area with JR Tomakomai Station, carrying the machine on his shoulder. However, he stopped at one point and put the machine down. At that same moment a clerk spotted the man and called out to him. The suspect responded, “I’m not stealing,” and then started to run away towards the station leaving the machine behind.
The clerk notified police and an officer on patrol spotted a man fitting the description of the suspect. After questioning, the 26-year-old man was arrested, but in a subsequent interrogation denies some of the charges, saying: “I carried the machine away, but I didn’t intend to steal it.”
It’ll probably take a really good lawyer to support that excuse, especially with the very damning fact that the suspect was wearing a ski mask at the time. On the other hand, some readers of the news pointed out the odd fact that he took what must have been the least valuable machine of the bunch, since most capsule toy machines contain collectable figures that sell for higher prices than super balls.
“If he took a machine with anime figures I could understand it, but super balls?”
“Interesting, he’s probably going to say he was just moving it around as a joke, and get his charges reduced to obstruction of business.”
“Anytime someone wears a ski mask, they intend to steal something.”
“That excuse is an oldie but a goodie.”
“If he gets off because of that it’ll be open season for shoplifters.”
“I’m sure he was going to return it all when he was done.”
Source: HBC, Otakomu
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2021/12/22/hokkaido-man-arrested-after-daring-daylight-theft-of-141-super-balls/
15 Comments
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Hiro
Maybe he just want to see if he can get away with it or not. Sometimes people dare themselves to try weird things out or just to get some media attention for some fame.
Steve
Well, he’s got balls!!
wayan Ubud
is this the type of news we all must read in the morning? Obviously nothing more interesting is happening around the country.
AustPaul
Interested to know where he dropped the machine, if it was still inside the business a good lawyer might argue he didn’t intend to steal it (despite that is what it looks like to most people) and just shift it?
Not sure what the legal definition of theft in Japan is but here it’s the “intention to permanently deprive.”
WA4TKG
Musta' grown something powerful to cause that :)
jeancolmar
Can this be the quintessential only in Japan goofy crime? I hate to think what would have happened in the U.S.
Mocheake
Pretty ballsy move.
WA4TKG
Yes, Hiro is right, like putting a bed in the street in Shibuya
Lindsay
I’m pretty sure he was after the cash in the machine. The balls were not his target.
Danielsan
Thieves must be dealt with severely and harshly or their brazen exploits will only escalate.
snowymountainhell
What’s the starting age for your proposal *@Danielsan 1:15pm*** **?:
Japan may have a different idea than many other countries about what age ‘personal criminal responsibility’ starts.JeffLee
Why isn't his name mentioned?
Khaos
If asked why he was wearing a ski mask, at this point "because of corona" can even be a plausible explanation.
starpunk
He has the ballz to carry this thing in open daylight and still claim he ain't stealing it. Tell me, who's going to truly buy it?