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School principal arrested for shoplifting in Ehime

19 Comments

The principal of a private school in Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, has been arrested for shoplifting groceries, including "onigiri" (rice balls).

According to police, Yukimasa Yoshioka, the 63-year-old principal of Tomisu Junior and High School, was caught shoplifting 11 grocery items, including onigiri and sake which were worth about ¥1,200 at a supermarket in Ozu at around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Fuji TV reported. Yoshioka put the items into the pockets of his suit jacket and left the supermarket without paying, but was detained by a store employee until police arrived.

Yoshioka has admitted to the charge and was quoted by police as saying that "I have been finding it difficult to make ends meet."

Katsuto Kimura, the vice president of the school, told reporters: "It is very shocking and hard to believe."

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19 Comments
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11 grocery items, including onigiri and sake which were worth about ¥1,200 at a supermarket

Onigiri....about 100 yen each, sake and other items? Dude is a cheapskate. I'll bet it wasnt the first time either.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A school principal who doesn't have enough money? Makes me wonder about his living situation, or whether he's feeding some addiction.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"...or whether he's feeding some addiction."

Perhaps feeding the addiction of shoplifting.

http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Shoplifting_Addiction

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hahaha. What a funny kleptomaniac that principal is.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It never fails to amaze me how this addiction affects people from all walks of life, poor to wealthy, young and old. For some work/marriage/family stresses seem to exacerbate the urge to steal and for others its adrenaline rush.

Oddly enough, I actually do feel sorry for this man because his life and reputation are ruined forever, although he seems to have a clear sense of entitlement — "my principal's salary is too low, so I deserve not to have to pay like everyone else."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He should be made to attend the moral education classes with the children in his school.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

...sake...6:30 a.m. on Tuesday....

There's your answer. Dude's an alcoholic. It's not that he didn't have the money; it's that he didn't want to be seen buying sake on his way to work.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The addictive urge to steal - often sundry low value items - is a more serious than acknowledged problem reflecting on other personal and social issues.

Clinical depression, stress, sense of worth, feelings of entitlement etc can all trigger "out of the blue" unexplained actions. Such troubles are often manifested in minor anti-social actions such as shoplifting as the perpetrator often experiences a brief high and escape from other pressing issues.

The principal's excuse that times are tough was probably just a blurt to cover up more serious mental worries.

Kleptomania can be as debilitating an affliction as drug/ alcohol / gambling etc dependency, but society in the main has yet to recognize it as such and lumps it in the "criminal" category. Unfortunately.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, he could now kiss his nice retirement pension goodbye that teachers and principals supposedly get.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Stress.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How sad and unfortunate for him. It begs the question if he may have a fix habit or gambling condition?...This could trigger monetary instability. Japan never takes theft lightly. I pray for him.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It begs the question if he may have a fix habit or gambling condition?...This could trigger monetary instability.

Im pretty sure a principal earns a good salary. Its a shame when people have certain lifestyles and cannot live within their means.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People who steal from stores can be any age, race, gender, and social economic background and they steal for many reasons. But there's no way around the fact that stealing is stealing. However people don't have to get caught shoplifting to affect their lives. It can cost the person self-respect or the respect of others. In the end shoplifting steals from all of us and the crime directly affects so many people. Without community action we will continue to undermine current crime prevention efforts, suffer economic loss and family hardships and weaken the values of honesty, integrity, and character in our youth and our future.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

At 6:30 am ... 11 items , probably for his breakfast and lunch at the school ..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cleptomania is a disease. He needs help and treatment.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's hard to imagine that he got the idea that he would always get away with shoplifting without getting busted. That means, yes, he would probably get a kick out of shoplifting so much that he ended up giving in to his impulses. But still, it's so strange to me why he has been the principal until now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Quite a sad story really. Sad for this man but also the school itself. Will be hard to bounce back but wish him good luck.

Ps: don't steal using your suit jacket, far too visible i would say. Rookie error.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why he did it? The answer is he must be suffering some kind of undiagnosed mental illness and boring his life. Most of Japanese working men and women are suffering some kind mental illness from work related pressure from work, unfriendly working environment situation and overloaded work. Most of mental illness sufferers are undiagnosed and unnoticed because these peoples try to forget their work place related problems by drinking heavily after work. Some peoples try losing themselves by doing stupid shoplifting. He may have some kind of financial hardship but I believe he can afford for JPY-1200 worth of Onigiri and Sake. He needs professional help.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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