Police on Thursday arrested a 52-year-old part-time worker at NHK for allegedly stealing 496,000 yen from a convenience store in Oshima, Tokyo. Naoyuki Tsubokawa was arrested for allegedly stealing the money at the store around 7:20 p.m. on Sept 11.
According to police investigations, the suspect entered the shop's back office after he asked staff if he could use the toilet. He stole the money which was on the desk in the office. Police said Tsubokawa works part-time for the shop as well. He was quoted by police as saying, “I spent the money I stole on drinking and gambling.”
Tsubokawa worked as a fee collector for NHK. The broadcaster said it fired him after his arrest.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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WilliB
Mean Ringo:
Robbing combinis is illegal too, isnt´t it?
MeanRingo
I thought gambling was illegal in Japan? How could he gamble then?
jeancolmar
“I spent the money I stole on drinking and gambling.” What about women?
thepro
That's the same thing
serindipity
I'm confused! Is the story about the fact he was part-time NHK fee collector or is it about his robberies?
Nessie
Better they rob the konbini than rob me.
Dennis Bauer
He kept the economy going so what is his crime? :p
CavemanLawyer
It turns out that the convenience store owner did not pay his NHK fees for a few years, so its all good. Tsubokawa just took what was owed, plus some late fees.
That is where NHK fees all go. Didn't you know?
kawabunga
Don't even get me started on NHK. It is a rule NOT a law to pay NHK. We don't watch it, we don't need it and we are not gonna pay for it. My husband even told them we would block the channel IF we could. We pay for what we use and we don't use/need/watch NHK so why do they continue to bother us? Just because everybody does it doesn't mean you have to do it. Japanese need to stand up for their rights man! Just say NO folks! You don't have to pay!
Moderator: Readers please stay on topic. Whether or not you should pay NHK fees is not relevant.
kill_da_cat
I know that I pay for the service in full once a year and that's it. I've been paying for NHK for 9 years now and I've never had a problem with the collector. In fact she's a very polite woman.
BBLeo
“I spent the money I stole on drinking and gambling.”... Well in his own words that is his entertainment. Shop owner should keep his money in the safe, you can blame thief, 'MONEY IS AN ATTRACTION TO THE WHOLE WORLD.' It is amazing to read this incident, that was performed on September 11. Why took so long cops to nab him? 'RHERE'S THE RUB: ROB TODAY GET NABBED AFTER TWO WEEKS OR NEVER.'
timeon
so they keep their money on the desk? paradise for thieves
DenshaDeGO
You don't know much about NHK, do you?
kill_da_cat
If people would just pay the NHK fee, it wouldn't be harassing.
WilliB
A talking point for the next NHK thug who harrasses me at my door.
fatloser
Another black eye for NHK!!!!!!!!!!
CavemanLawyer
Once a thief always a thief. NHK trained his spirit well, but all other training was lacking it seems.
--Cirroc