Would-be thief asks store manager to report him to police

So he will get a suspended sentence for trying to knock over the cash, while getting 10 years hard labor for the can of coffee?

Police arrested a man for possession of a deadly weapon

... a deadly weapon ... I seriously must become more careful when cooking with all those deadly tools around me.

that made my day!

He is obviously BEGGING for help.

planned on moving to a new apartment with his wife.

Well now he will be moving into a new jail sell with a new boyfriend.

The best thing about Japanese news media is that even the most petty, insignificant deviant behavior is reported and fit to print. How a newspaper even has the space for an incident like this is beyond me, but I do admit that it is entertaining in the way short stories are entertaining. A little slice of humanity right here.

Although he made a mistake, he has my sympathy. He clearly needs help. and yes, the japanese media is horrendous, scummy and knows no moral. Murders are made into t.v. shows with lame music and everything. Sensationalism @ its best. Yuck!

Hmmmm, he is heavily in debt and decided to rob a convenience store?

I dont think the $200-$300 he would have got would have gone very far.

Sounds like a cry for help to me, or a Im too chicken to talk to my wife. Either way this is so much better than the other options.

My coworkers stay late to avoid coming home to their wives. This guys taking it a little extreme.

Good for him for doing the right thing.

Methinks he wants to avoid the missus.

I feel sorry for the dude.

At least he was selfless enough not to go through with it.

A fine and/or community service should suffice.

Another hard days work for the cops.

skroknog at 02:00 PM JST - 1st July

Another hard days work for the cops.

Hahahaahahahaha!!

How can he even be charged for this? This is almost along the line of the movie "Minority Report". The guy thought about it and went there but didn't follow through. He then told the manager to report him to the police for his 'impure thoughts'? WTF?!? How about askingthe guy what the real problem is?

Primary Objective: Steal cash and solve debt problems quick

Secondary Objective: Earn prison sentence, live off the taxpayers.

This plan cannot fail, unless he earns a suspended sentence.

You people need to read the article more thoroughly. The guy asked the manager to report him, meaning he confessed his intent to police. That is why he is being charged.

And possession of a deadly weapon is an offense, and applies to household objects. Anything wielded with the intent to harm, or threaten harm, to someone is considered a deadly weapon. A kitchen knife, when used for its proper purpose, is not deadly. But when you use it to stab someone in the neck, I would consider that pretty deadly. Because the guy confessed his intent to use the knife to rob someone, that is why the charge stands. This isn't rocket science.

"the thief"

He's no thief!

maxpower, you can get 10 times that amount robbing the right convenience store at the right time in Japan. Don't start getting any ideas though.

Wow. What a dork. Or he was seriously inebriated. Or both.

We all nee money! Should we all go on with the robbery spree?

**KnowBetter at 04:27 PM JST - 1st July

How can he even be charged for this? This is almost along the line of the movie "Minority Report". **

Winner Post!! hahahahahaahahaaha

Seriously, people. This is really very elementary.

Let's pretend I am a would-be terrorist, and I amass several large home made bombs before changing my mind and giving up on my plan. I then turn myself in to authorities and say "I planned on blowing up a building but now I'm not going to. Here are my bombs."

Do you really believe the police are just going to shrug and say "no harm, no foul?"

Intent to commit a crime is a jailable offense if the cops can prove it. I think turning yourself in is proof enough.

what a gentleman

Intent carries a much lower sentence of course.

Human Target, what if I think about beating up a cop and then don't do it. Am I still likely to get arrested for attempted assault? No.

I carry a hammer around with me in the unlikely event somebody tries to rob me. I also carry a nail around, in case a cop finds me with my hammer. This guy should have carried around a carrot. Then he could have said the knife was for chopping.

I heard voices ... they said I should steal ...please someone stop me.

Read the article folks, he was only charged with possession of a deadly weapon (which he really had done). Not "wielding" and not attempted robbery. "Minority Report" does not apply.

Who knows, by the time the police have finished questioning him, he might end up confessing to lots of other crimes..

enjoy ur honeymoon with ur cellmate u complete nitwit

@HumanTarget

I think you are confusing intent with attempt. While I'm no expert on Japanese law, the general concept of an attempt is that with intent to commit a crime, the person engages in conduct which tends to effect the commission of such crime. In this case, bring the knife into the store with the intent of robbing it and then changing his mind is jailable as an attempt. The intent itself is not jailable.

Wait... when he "helped" himself to a can of coffee... did he steal it?

And what's a can of coffee?

^Nevermind about the can of coffee... I've been out of Japan for too long. lol facepalm

What a story.. i have to agree here this man is def. calling out for help..otherwise he would have just left the store and went on his way.. again, i can see him getting some sort of therapy but arrested?

When as Weasel, stated :"How can he be in possession of a weapon when he laid it down on a counter and walked away"?

This man is obviously no theif, just a mna who is overly stressed.

I wonder was it a can or cup..of coffe?

@HumanTarget...honestly..the example you gave..to much..very different scenario!!!