crime

Parents, son arrested for stealing groceries from Niigata supermarket

18 Comments

Police in Niigata city have arrested a family of three on suspicion of theft after they allegedly stole groceries from a supermarket. The three have been identified as Saichi Sato, 67, his wife Kazue, 64, and their son Takeshi, 45, all residents of Kita Ward. 

The shoplifting occurred at around 4:35 p.m. on August 4, Sankei Shimbun reported. The trio reportedly stole eight items of groceries worth about 1,750 yen. An employee who noticed the incident detained Saichi and his wife, but Takeshi ran out of the store. He was arrested at the family home the next morning.

Police said all three were receiving welfare at the time of the theft. Following their arrest, they have admitted to the charge, police said, adding that they are questioning them about other reported cases of shoplifting in the area.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
Login to comment

It is not like they were stealing because they were hungry by any chance ?

Or stole for fun or to get rich perhaps ?

I have no idea after reading the article lol.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They were receiving welfare - which suggests that they were either good con artists, or were on the margin economically.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

They were probably asked to do that by some people who want to justify the movie about that kind of family.

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Welfare is not a lot. It isn't suppose to be. There would be no incentive to work if you could cover your basic expenses with extra to pursue your hobbies and interests. Most likely they are not good at managing finances, so they have to stretch everything until their next payment. They need to eat to survive, but somebody also wants to pay their cellphone bill, to go to pachinko, and to drink some beer.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

these poor people, are there no christians in that area , soup kitchen or dumpster bins

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

these poor people, are there no christians in that area , soup kitchen or dumpster bins

Possibly not, although not sure what part religion plays in their plight?

It's not easy being on welfare. I hope the sentence is suspended.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Shoplifting national news story?

The family are on welfare, they are probably hungry.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

@Jonathan Prin

It is not like they were stealing because they were hungry by any chance ?

Or stole for fun or to get rich perhaps ?

I have no idea after reading the article lol.

Do you not?

The trio reportedly stole eight items of groceries worth about 1,750 yen.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Maybe if they spend a few weeks in lockup awaiting trial, and then 3 to 6 months for the crime - they will at least obtain survival level food while off the streets.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

these poor people, are there no christians in that area , soup kitchen or dumpster bins

Apparently not in Niigata.

I do know a Christian church in Omotesando - Tokyo Union Church that delivers and passes out three rice triangles (onigiri) each to the homeless in Shibuya and nearby areas.

I thought it was only during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season, but they do this everyday, 365 friggin days a year. Amazing!

Apparently they are not the only ones to do so. I was told a Catholic chapel in Roppongi also does the same.

If any one needs food in that area, there is help available.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Give them all hard prison time. Zero sympathy from me.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

tinawatanabe: "They were probably asked to do that by some people who want to justify the movie about that kind of family."

Or just maybe the movie reflects a small bit of truth about society in general -- people who are hungry, and who need to, will steal to get food. It needn't mean someone for some very odd reasoning asked them do it to mimic a movie. But since we are talking about that completely off the wall reasoning, why do you think that is the case? What's in it for the people who ask them to do it, and whom do you think, since you suggest it as a probability, it is who asked them?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Jesus, shoplifters caught and it makes the headlines. They're a dime a dozen in every town.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I guess nobody understood tinawatanabe's reference. The reason this is on the news at all is probably because it is similar to the movie Manbiki kazoku "Shoplifters" which is at theaters now.

I find it funny that suddenly the comments section is full of people saying they deserve no sympathy, or even jailtime, for something as small as this. Sure, they shouldnt be allowed to think its ok, but on the other hand, this doesnt sound like a crime of greed, which is a far worse reason to steal. This is just a family who were dealt a bad lot in life. Nobody around to show them how to make money to get ahead in life, nobody to guide them. So they are two generations, probably more, of poverty and lack of hope.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites