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A 28-year-old unemployed man was arrested for theft on Sunday, after he allegedly stole roughly 4,000 yen worth of goods from a supermarket in Akashi City, and had his 9-year-old nephew steal some items as well.
Police said Yoshihiko Mimura entered the supermarket with his nephew at around 1.30 p.m. and is accused of putting shampoo, detergent and 12 other items worth about 4,000 yen into a backpack he brought into the store, before walking out of the supermarket without paying.
A security guard noticed Mimura hadn’t paid and approached him outside the store, and also found meat and vegetables worth 760 yen in the boy’s backpack. The boy said his uncle told him to steal some meat, and Mimura has admitted to stealing as well as making his nephew steal.
A similar case was reported in nearby Kakogawa City on Sept 4, in which a man had his 11-year-old son steal some rice and juice, and told police that he thought an elementary school student would not be detained for theft.
© News reports
17 Comments
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neganip
When the going gets tough, the tough quit and resort to escapism.
bokudayo
Wouldn't this fall into the same category as committing sexual act with a minor? Corrupting a minor (or something like that)?
AK619
I have a personal thing about arresting people that shoplift for food, I cannot turn them over to the Police for booking. No one should be hungry, thats just humanity. Hunger and starvation is a natrual force that will turn a person into a theft, killer, or predator to eat.
telecasterplayer
It's terrible that this boy's uncle had to teach him how to do this. Where was his father?
ham21
This world is in sad shape when it becomes OK to steal for any reason. Isn't there any chairtable institutions in Japan that desprate people can turn to? Aren't there any jobs that a person can work at if they really are in need? Is a person's pride too great that it is better to become a theif that to take a job that one views as "beneath my dignaty"?
igotchu
Its difficult to punish someone for stealing food, plus the fact that a child was involved makes this even more distasteful to the palate when condoning this behavior, but I do. Japanese people, in general, have a strong amount of tolerance for hunger. I wonder how much did this man suffer before he acted out of necessity. Society here has to ask itself when should I step in, how should I involve myself, and what can we offer to help our brothers who are in need? Do we need bread lines, well, if there is no jobs then society has no choice. A self help solution is the best approach. Punish this man, but help this man more so he can provide for his family. Rewarding criminals is not good precedence, but diminishing circumstances has to be considered in such hard economic times.
Jkanda
Maybe the supermarkets should run a soup kitchen.
IchyaWarFare
Sorry, dude was not just stealing food, he was stealing other goods and amenities also. He just did not want to pay. There has been a lot of theft lately and the people stealing do have the money on them, just do not want to pay. That is why supermarkets are hiring normal clothed security. If the dude was a bum, then I would understand, but doing this and corrupting a minor, he needs to do a little time.
Jkanda
Ichya he was unemployed. Where does he have the money?
rodmartin
Unemployed means not employed but doesnt mean no money.
benhur
he should have brought his niece to distract the security.. oh well.
ebisen
Personally I do believe noone should be allowed to starve and noone should have to steal for food - but I don't agree with using a 9 year old child for this.
At least (I hope) they didn't find any cigarettes or alcohol in his backpack - but only strictly necessary items.
rewetzel1
Maybe if Japan would actually open some soup kitchens, homeless shelters or food pantrys like other countries.... But that would be CHARITABLE, heaven forbid.
waltery
The problem of stealing food isnt just in the supermarkets with children, I think one is going through our appartments decompostable rubbish for food scraps, it must be a child as they dont know how to tie a knot, they left the bags open. I now leave my food scaraps in specialy marked bags, to asvoid any further mess.
Fadamor
While the list of items taken wasn't comprehensive, it didn't sound like they were taking anything but basic needs for food and hygiene. It's not like they were taking caviar and lobster. We're only talking 4760Y worth of items, after all.
That said, they shouldn't get a free pass for doing this. It would teach the child the wrong message.
sharky1
Just reading the headline, it looks like he would have been okay if he shoplifted with an adult.
nath
Kind of family business... To be unemployed doesn't mean not having any pride. As long as you have something to eat and a place to sleep, you still have a better life than millions of others...