Man arrested for stealing guard rails in Tochigi Prefecture

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The constant spate of thefts by senior citizens shows the pension and welfare system is not worth the paper it is written on. These people are desperate and will do anything to get some cash to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. I’ve witnessed senior citizens stealing from supermarkets quite a few times. I remember seeing one old lady taking a strawberry from each punnet and sticking them in her jacket pocket. I saw an old guy lining his jacket pockets with 2-minute noodles. These people are desperate and have no income. They likely paid pension most of their lives and have used up their 20% return from their investment.

Sign of the times. His crimes were wrong but agree with @Lindsay 8:26am. With +15% of Japan living in poverty, these are truly “Desperate people living in desperate times”.

“He was quoted as saying he stole the guard rails because he needed money for living expenses.” -

Seems police may also solve this Chiba mystery from last month?:

Feb 24: https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Police-baffled-by-bizarre-guard-rail-theft-spree-in-Chiba

“with the collective damage being roughly 1.5 million yen.” -

Today: “Chiba prefectural officials said the cost of replacing all the stolen items will be around 2 million yen.

Hope they bust the scrap metal dealer.

. He was quoted as saying he stole the guard rails because he needed money for living expenses.

There is this thing called EMPLOYMENT.

EMPLOYMENT. The man is 63 years old.

Furuya has been very busy pilfering and making good money at it.

There's No excuse but blatant thieving.

Srapdealer, "Where did you get these from?"

Seller, " I found them on the side of the road."

Employment that brings 400,000 in that short time and easy ‘work’ efforts and at aged 63? Tell us all where we can send our applications. lol

Richard GallagherToday 01:57 pm JST

EMPLOYMENT. The man is 63 years old

I see guard men, teachers, station workers, store clerks and so on who are older than that. There IS employment out there.

If you are on kokumin nenkin you get 67K yen a month which is not even enough for rents. Most people will like to look the other and pretend Japan hasn't poverty issues or groups that have fallen off welfare.

I posted on this subject a few weeks ago. I knew the authorities were bound to catch the perp sooner or later with the aid of surveillance. I understand it takes time and perseverance, but sometimes all you need is to spot a Kei truck driving around at 3am in the area and you've got a suspect.

EMPLOYMENT. The man is 63 years old.

@ Richard Gallagher - So, he cannot work at 63? He is physically able to steal metal railings which would suggest he can.

Many Japanese are working well past 63.

Yes - he should have gotten a job.

Sven AsaiToday 06:23 pm JST

Employment that brings 400,000 in that short time and easy ‘work’ efforts and at aged 63? Tell us all where we can send our applications. lol

So that means we should all resort to thievery instead of looking to be gainfully employed and a productive member of society?

People are that desperate.

I posted years ago that poverty was growing in Japan and now we see the reality becoming more and more obvious as these crimes occur more frequently…

It's so easy to pass judgment. Japan does not care about the elderly while they promote youth. Older people are discriminated against in Japan. Guy probably tried to get a job but could not. The Japanese Government does not help anyone much during this COVID crisis. His situation is understandable. He needs help. Not judged.

@ Michael

In case you haven't noticed 63 is not that elderly for Japan.

Especially if he's able to scoop up a bunch of guard rails and other stuff.

@Michael Machida I am laughing dude!! Your logic is here there and everywhere confusing.

It's so easy to pass judgment. Japan does not care about the elderly while they promote youth. OK Michael I agree with you and this but remember the government is a business they are not in the business to take of you. Remember you are only here on this earth to make sure they stay in business by becoming a tax paying member of society. Fact is how many times have you heard old people complaining about noise coming from schools. You say Older people are discriminated against in Japan. This works both way its the culture the old people were once young and they only learn what they were taught and when you retire or reach a certain age and you cannot work any longer and pay your taxes, you fall in that category of being a nonproductive citizen and looked down on by the very young and business that you once were apart of. You said the guy Guy probably tried to get a job but could not. Well perhaps he did work at some point in time or lets say he did some other things in his life that made him unemployable. LOL you wrote The Japanese Government does not help anyone much during this COVID crisis. Again the J-Government is only interested in people who are tax paying citizens the "RICH" and those who work. LMFAO you wrote "His situation is understandable". SO THAT MEANS YOU DON'T MIND SUPPORTING THE MIND SET OF A THIEF!! I AGREE!! He needs help A JAIL CELLL!! LMFAO you said he does not need to be judged. Tell that to the courts!!!

Police had him fenced in, there was no escape.