Man arrested for kidnapping 11-year-old girl in Nara

Example of good police work and public vigilance - except for the dozo staff member who heared a scream but obviously did nothing.

So glad she's okay...The perverted pond scum who kidnapped her needs to be castrated and put in prison.

That's why you don't leave your children alone especially in a crowded mall. Trouble could and will happen in a minute. Always protect your family.

This puppy should never be set free again, pump him with water brain melting medicine they call treatment, and let him spend his days in some institution.

Great work by the police to track the mongrel down and apprehend him before worse was done. Give the store employee a kick up the *** too for ignoring what would have been a scream of terror.

Just saw this in the news last night. I'm relieved to hear that she's safe and unharmed. Kudos to the police for acting quickly on that witness' tip. They talked to some people and they said that area was known for some shady people hanging around. I hope the store employee got a proper scolding for his/her lack of common sense. It could've turned out tragic.

I usually slag the keystones as they deserve it, BUT this time they did GOOD, Nice work! Thx for getting this girl back quickly well done!

Give the store employee a kick up the *** too for ignoring what would have been a scream of terror.

Really. Where were his judgment and commom sense?

Sadly under Japanese law the maximum penalty he'll get is between three and seven years in prison if there is no ransom or physical injury involved. （刑法２２４条　未成年者を略取し、又は誘拐した者は、３月以上７年以下の懲役に処する）

Police quoted a store employee as saying he heard a scream coming from near the toilet at around 2 p.m.

And that didn't raise any alarms? I mean, presumably, this information came to light after the police were brought in to help find this missing girl. So, what precisely did the story employee think was the significance of a scream coming from the restrooms in the middle of the afternoon?

I'm very, very glad that this girl was found relatively unscathed, but for Pete's sake, her trauma could have been considerably minimized, or prevented altogether if people weren't so damned head-down, not-my-problem when it comes to matters that don't directly concern them, including the abduction of an 11-year-old child in the middle of the afternoon preceded by a scream for help. This isn't an indictment of Japan, but of people in general. A society is only as safe and as strong as the people who choose to actively participate in it.

FernGully JUL. 06, 2015 - 08:31AM JST Are all unemployed people in Japan criminals or mentally unstable in some way or fashion? This is ridiculous. Why is it, 9 times out of 10, an unemployed person commits a crime here? Jeez.

Well, in Japan if you're homeless, you have no chance of getting a job. Which means you have no chance of improving your situation. Without a job, you have no chance of starting a family and surrounding yourself with loving, supportive people who give you a reason for being. The whole basis for the government's tracking of society is by family registration, so if you're homeless, you may as well not exist. Without enrollment in national health insurance through your employer, you may have trouble getting into a hospital to get treatment for any mental health disorders you may have. Instead of having systems in your life to mitigate any psychological issues you have, instead you live under a blue tarp in the street under constantly stressful situations which exacerbate your psychological issues you may have. Really, is it any wonder that homeless would have higher mental health problems than the general population?

Péter Szilágyi JUL. 06, 2015 - 07:19AM JST That's why you don't leave your children alone especially in a crowded mall.

Really? Maybe we can compare the national number of kidnappings with the number of children left unattended in a crowded mall. That ratio plus the fact that people were on the ball enough to stop this guy before any physical harm was done suggests to me that statistically speaking, Japan remains a fairly safe place for unattended children in public.

Patric Spohn JUL. 06, 2015 - 11:00AM JST Spell it out and a higher percentage of parents will not leave their little girls dressed in miniskirts wander off alone.

Uh, that's really weird that you focused on the miniskirt and honestly more than a little creepy. It's not the miniskirt's fault she was abducted.

For once, the local constabulary did a good job. Well done!

Pfff what a relief for the parents that must be, can't imagine what they have gone through.

That's why you don't leave your children alone especially in a crowded mall. Trouble could and will happen in a minute. Always protect your family.

Easy to say, but you can't always be 100% on your guard. When people want to do bad things, they will find a way.

As many of have said - really, really rare, so I hope it doesn't freak out society where kids can't go anywhere. Just embed a GPS chip in their body and no problemo.

Glad the girls is ok, i wonder if we find out what the guys intentions were

I think he wanted to take her home and braid her hair.

The store employee heard a scream but didn't do anything about it.

People, if you hear someone scream, check it out. Things like this might be avoided then. Don't wait for the police to come by later asking you when you heard the scream.

Are all unemployed people in Japan criminals or mentally unstable in some way or fashion? This is ridiculous. Why is it, 9 times out of 10, an unemployed person commits a crime here? Jeez.

And, in light of CrazyJoe's statement, I find this extremely disturbing. I see this guy getting out of prison, and then doing this again.

this would have almost certainly ended badly, alas the state of japanese law he'll only get charged with a minor crime.

@CrazyJoe -That's assuming that he doesn't get charged with additional attempted or inchoate crimes. It's very likely that he could be charged with attempted sexual offences (or even conspiracy to commit murder). It all depends on what conclusions the evidence supports. The police must be turning over his apartment and looking through his internet browsing history to find out what his intentions might have been.

At least the girl is safe but yeah, you don't expect stuff like this in Japan. 20 years ago it was rare. At least I think it was. Maybe reporting is better. Unemployment is certainly higher. You really have to hope civility isn't breaking down.

Are all unemployed people in Japan criminals or mentally unstable in some way or fashion? This is ridiculous. Why is it, 9 times out of 10, an unemployed person commits a crime here? Jeez.

No but consider this, culturally speaking in some ways, when a person commits a crime it reflects on the company or business and that is in some ways could be seen as a deterrent to some crimes and criminals. They aren't just embarrassing themselves but the people they work for as well.

@ferngully, some may really be unemployed but I do believe that some are employed thought non contributors to social security and neither pay into the kokumin nenkin hence to eliminate paper works and pointing fingers as to why the city hall neglected to collect taxes, it is easier to label them unemployed. The criminal has a car if ever it is his and he knows how to drive meaning he had the money for driving school and driving license. Just a strong hunch, I maybe wrong though.

Kevin Lee Brooke

He won't get off as lightly as you think. He is not a minor. By the way, why do you think he would be sent back into society with another name?

This SHOULD serve as a wake up call for all parents here, but sadly it will only affect the parents where this girl was abducted, the rest will still have their heads in the sand and justify their inaction to "It could never happen here".

The judge should throw the book at this vermin and make an example out of him.

BTW, for those parents concerned, I'm eyeing on this wrist watch (http://goo.gl/oSjtOK). Just have to wait a little bit longer until the mobile phone providers are opening up their SIM locks and extra SIM cards can be purchased individually.

He must be really sick because an 11 year old girl would drive me crazy in 10 minutes flat. Matter of fact it would be torcher to be confined with an 11 year old girl.

BTW she wasnt wearing a mini-skirt according to the news, they were culottes (sp?) which are trousers.

@Brainiac

I disagree with you about how long he will be incarcerated. I say it will be paltry at best.

Be that as it may, that was my mistake about him being sent back into society with another name. I believe that just goes for minors here. A law I whole-heartedly disagree with as well.

@FernGully

Why is it, 9 times out of 10, an unemployed person commits a crime here?

You just answered your own question... they've got nothing better to do...

It IS VERY scary... I know, I've never had the SAME experience but a guy "exposed" himself to me when I was about 10 years old...

I'm not so sure if she's unharmed. Have you ever heard any article describing what was really done to a girl after abduction? Spell it out and a higher percentage of parents will not leave their little girls dressed in miniskirts wander off alone.

Spell it out and a higher percentage of parents will not leave their little girls dressed in miniskirts wander off alone.

But the parents think-"kawaii", when they dress them up this way.

so it's the parent's fault for letting their daughter wear a miniskirt?

No. Not parents fault. Not poor little girl's fault either. Glad the cops got this creep. Now only if japan would quit glorifying the young teeny-bop culture, perhaps there'd be less creeps and chikans.

Good work jcops you caught them pedophiles, we need to get every pedophile off the street of Japan! oh wait that means we would end up throwing 40% of Japan male population into prison. Better off to send them to rehabilitation for years in a psychiatric ward than imprisonment.

He will do a scant amount of time, be "rehabilitated", then sent back into society under another name and address to hunt again. Meanwhile, innocent citizens somewhere out there will have not idea, thus be unable to take precautions to protect their children. Nice.

Glad the girls is ok, i wonder if we find out what the guys intentions were

Wc626Jul. 06, 2015 - 01:47PM JST

Spell it out and a higher percentage of parents will not leave their little girls dressed in miniskirts wander off alone.

But the parents think-"kawaii", when they dress them up this way.

so it's the parent's fault for letting their daughter wear a miniskirt? what next, women who wear miniskirts deserve to get raped? you two are really ****ed in the head.

ebisenJul. 06, 2015 - 07:34AM JST This puppy should never be set free again, pump him with water brain melting medicine they call treatment, and let him spend his days in some institution.

Unfortunately , in this country this case is a minor offense and he will be free in few weeks to do it again and again ..