Photo: Pakutaso
crime

Saitama police chief arrested for stealing rolls of toilet paper

46 Comments
By SoraNews24

On June 3, Takashi Tanaka, chief of police at Fukaya Station in Saitama Prefecture, was handed a one-month suspension after he was caught stealing not one, but five rolls of toilet paper. However, having been caught white-handed and at the age of 60, he decided to take early retirement the same day.

According to the rest of the police, on May 29, the chief was spending his day off getting plastered at his home in Konosu City. That evening he was drinking some more in the parking lot of a convenience store, when he began experiencing abdominal discomfort from the excessive alcohol and an underlying medical condition. He then headed to the public toilet of a commercial facility near JR Konosu Station.

While in the stall he found extra rolls of toilet paper, placed there by staff as a reserve supply. Concerned that his tummy might act up during the train ride home, Tanaka commandeered five rolls and left the restroom.

However, a concerned shopper spotted the drunk man stealing toilet paper and alerted mall security who then called the police, reporting: “We have a man with toilet paper in custody.” In the ensuing embarrassment the chief was disciplined for quite possibly the pettiest of thefts, and criminal charges are likely to be filed.

Here’s what people had to say about the news online.

“He will never live this down. Every time he enters the room it’s like ‘Look there’s Chief Toilet Paper!'”

“He probably spent years building that career, and just flushed it all for some toilet paper.”

“Maybe deep down he wanted to quit his job and was looking for an excuse.”

“Retirement by toilet paper.”

“I’m not going to judge. I’ve been there too, but that’s some world-class diarrhea if you need five rolls!”

“However you want to spend your holiday is your business, but buy your own toilet paper like the rest of us!”

“Not a bad way to get an early retirement with pension.”

Many comments speculated that the sheer amount of toilet paper stolen was highly suspicious and that he was possibly deliberately trying to get an early retirement. However, given Tanaka’s highly intoxicated state, it’s unlikely he could concoct such a cunning plan. Considering his testimony, it would seem more likely such a large quantity of paper was intended for pure absorptive damage control in the event the police chief pooped his pants on the train.

But ultimately his true motive is irrelevant because the fact remains that this former officer of the law took something that didn’t belong to him. The saddest part is that this crime probably could have been prevented had the mall just put a curse on its supply of toilet paper like some other business have done to prevent theft.

Sources: Asahi Shimbun, NHK

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Nagoya City Council debates: Is toilet paper really needed in public restrooms?

-- People in Japan are now stealing toilet paper in midst of coronavirus crisis

-- Crafts for grown-ups! Make your own portable smartphone speakers with toilet paper tubes

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

46 Comments
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You gotta hand it to the police to even willing to arrest the chief and also file the charges for the crime. And even dare to reveal this news to reporters.

If the guy was getting drunk at home and in a parking lot it may just be that he is not the kind of person that can get along well with others (it may even be one of the causes for the drinking), if he made enough enemies at his job nobody will be inspired to cover for him, getting rid of him could be worth the collective shame.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

??

11 ( +12 / -1 )

You gotta hand it to the police to even willing to arrest the chief and also file the charges for the crime. And even dare to reveal this news to reporters. Any other country, the one who try to do this to a police chief probably get a slap and scolded till his ears bleed. Where all you need to do is flash your badge and problems get solve.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

I heard that detectives had nothing to go on!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Sounds as if he was on a roll.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

"Arrested" for stealing toilet paper, really. I would never call the police for something so trivial! This story would only happen in Japan.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

“when he began experiencing abdominal discomfort from the excessive alcohol and an underlying medical condition. He then headed to the public toilet of a commercial facility near JR Konosu Station.

While in the stall he found extra rolls of toilet paper, placed there by staff as a reserve supply. Concerned that his tummy might act up during the train ride home, Tanaka commandeered five rolls and left the restroom.”

pathetic excuse that anyone with half a brain can see through. Take responsibility for your actions!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

So what you in here for?

prisoner A: taking pics up women’s skirts.

Prisoner B: stabbing my mom, cuz she didn’t make my popcorn

Prisoner C: I stole 6900 pairs of women’s shoes and replaced them with new oneS.

prisoner D: I’m a foreigner

prisoner E: I stole TP

7 ( +8 / -1 )

“Corona made me do it!” :/

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Freak.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Sorry, @runner3 7:10am

"Arrested" for stealing toilet paper, really? ..,something so trivial! -

Toilet paper in Japan is no ‘trivial’ matter ie:

“*Japan experiences ‘major runs’ on toilet paper as pandemic news breaks” - **Feb 20, ‘20*

Agreed:

“This story would only happen in Japan.” -

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Chief should have used the old, "I stole it because I was drunk. I drink to relieve stress. I am stressed from over work. The mayor and his pals powerhara me all the time by making me work late."

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Our newest お尻セレブ. Pulp faction at its finest. Only in Japan; but especially in Saitama.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Saitama is in the news again

4 ( +5 / -1 )

So what else was or did he steal? Guaranteed.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

People here do the absolute weirdest things when drunk.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Instead of using the paper he could have defecated into his pants-I’d let him off with a caution...

3 ( +5 / -2 )

In trying to prevent a stain on his uniform, he left a stain on the uniform.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It stinks too, no oun intended. He is 60 on the brink of getting his full retirement and police get a really nice retirement as well.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Corruption like this needs to be flushed out.

Sounds like a case for Oshiri Tantei.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Must be KIDDING me, LOL.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What A Shame !!!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

They should search his home and see what else he has been stealing. Toilet paper is only a 'gateway' item. He probably has pencils, pens, writing paper, and office supplies. That could lead to really serious things like theft of public trust and corruption. The judge at his trial should simply bill him for the items and send him back to work. The humiliation should be enough punishment. LOL

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Maybe the only reason he took off with 5 rolls was one for personal-hygene and the other 4 to wipe the slate clean !

2 ( +2 / -0 )

However, a concerned shopper spotted the drunk man stealing toilet paper and alerted mall security who then called the police, reporting: “We have a man with toilet paper in custody.”

I'm speechless.

When people fight in front of the bar, other people bypass them. If someone conerned sees someone carrying a roll of toilet paper, they call the police. When a car turns into oncoming traffic, the police ignore it, but then fine the cyclist who entered the pedestrian crossing a second before the light turned green.

Instead of publicly shaming him and/or kicking him out of the store, they start the whole apparatus and involve the police, which we pay for with our taxes. For a roll of toilet paper. Or maybe five.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"He seemed angrier at me for proving him wrong"

They hate it especially when none other than theirs does that..

1 ( +3 / -2 )

A champion of the paper-based rather than digital solution.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Didn't old Shinzo Abe resign twice over a similar "medical condition"? This police chief is in good company!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Thank goodness Old Milwaukee or Pabst Blue Ribbon isn’t sold in Japan.

You would need a toilet with a seat belt, stirrups, and a pulsating bidet to to implement the required “bowel cleansing“.

Toilet paper thievery would not exist. And there would be a lot more honorable police chiefs making it to full retirement age.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

prisoner D: I’m a foreigner

Lol nice :)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Who gives a ____!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

is this really NEWS ? lol such a funny website

0 ( +2 / -2 )

When it comes down to it legally, you can use as much toilet paper as you want to. Have you ever seen a sign in a bathroom saying only take as much toilet paper as you need? I'm sure he'll have these charges wiped off and he'll have a clean sheet! Lol!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

In Japan, you ruin somebody's life for toilet paper, with no remorse nor empathy. That is what I will remember after reading such news. I am waiting to see each one of the commenter who blames the guy to know if they never did anything wrong unlawful in their whole life.

Saints are not common. No one can expect living happy life if any tiny wrong deed with no consequence will lead your name on national newspaper.

And please tell me why a fiine would not be sufficient to repair the "damages", especially for someone who has a recognized medical solution.

Objectively speaking, this is more some social harassment than an ounce of worthy news.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

That’s not so uncommon that especially the more wealthy or rich people are stealing as if they would die in poverty within the next few hours. lol And in most cases that stolen things are not so extraordinarily expensive, in contrary, a perfume here, a tool in a DIY store there and in this case some toilet paper rolls. Some of them are sick and some are only bored when stealing and the rest needs new career refreshing publicity, but surely all are not so greedy, because they already have everything.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The easest way to sort this problem out would have been to fine the chap on the spot, say 4000 yen. and make him put the loo rolls back, so he didnt inconvenience anyone else. then this would have been delt with quickly and with out blocking up the court system with such a trivial crime.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not a bad way to get an early retirement with pension.

Completely wrong, if you willfully resign one day before hour mandatory retirement day you don't get your full retirement benefit.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Those two-ply rolls are hard to find sometimes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Why 5 rolls? half a roll would be enough to get you home, why wreck your career over a small stupid act? crazy, any way where the top trump excuse, "I was drunk and I dont remember"

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

This is ridiculous. I don't think this warrants arrest, losing his job and exposure in the media. For goodness sake just reprimand him and give him a warning and make him pay for the stolen toilet paper. There are far more serious criminals out there that the police need to go after, including corporate ones that are fraudulently obtaining millions, politicians on the take, etc.

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

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