Two 19-year-old male college students have been arrested on suspicion of stealing jackets at a clothing store in Osaka. Police said the minors are members of a shoplifting group calling themselves “Tanki Daigaku,” literally “Short-term College,” a nickname they adopted because shoplifting requires only a short amount of time.
According to police, in February, the two suspects, who are second-year students at a private university in Saitama Prefecture, were arrested for stealing two jackets worth approximately 55,000 yen from an apparel shop at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Sankei Shimbun reported.
Police said the pair formed a shoplifting group with two of their high school male classmates, who had already been arrested.
Following their arrest, the college students confessed that they stole the jackets from a store at the theme park. Furthermore, they admitted to carrying out “approximately 400 thefts” since last spring.
Police said the group would resell their stolen goods and made a profit of close to 7 million yen.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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Jonathan Prin
No way to gain anything to confess further stealing. Just say what police expects.
Ah_so
If there is one thing that the Japanese police and justice system do well, it's getting confessions.
In addition to the reason given immediately above by nandaka..., there was probably the threat of greater punishment if it went to an actual trial.
nandakandamanda
Stewart, the cops explain patiently to them that honesty may give them leniency, and it will also give closure to the stores that have been suffering such losses, and as a by-product it could be the power to turn these kids into potential future model citizens.
Stewart Gale
They’ve been busted for this crime yet they volunteer a confession for a further 399 crimes. Why would anyone do that?
Harry_Gatto
“approximately 400 thefts”
They counted?
Haruka
Snitching is popular here compared to Western society. I guess it is good, but I wonder why that is a cultural thing.
Toshihiro
400 thefts since last Spring? Wow, these guys are skilled. It's a shame there's no job market for skills like this.
Strangerland
Actually 'tanki' is 'short term', not just 'short'.
Moderator: Yes, that is a better translation.
Yubaru
Literally maybe, but practically Tandai, is Junior College, and these kids are acting the role of juvenile delinquents.