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kuchikomi

Ready job opportunities await aspiring crooks

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As Japan's unemployment figures soar, job seekers at the Hello Work employment offices face waits of up to five hours for a consultation. With, of course, no assurance of any positions coming open.

Whether former salarymen, contract workers, part-timers or those from the ranks of the working poor -- and yes, even foreigners -- growing numbers of desperate jobless are turning to a tried-and-true source of employment: crime.

It seems that "setto-dan" (theft gangs), are hiring. And according to Spa! (Apr 14), now there's even a training manual being circulated to acquaint newcomers with the basics of thievery.

Spa! claims to have obtained a printed copy of this "Setto Kyohon" (Primer for Stealing). A thumbnail photo shows page one of the neatly typed document, the center of which carries the words "Three Basic Rules for Stealing" -- which are, 1) Do it at night; 2) Do it where few people are around; and 3) Aim for places that handle lots of cash.

The source of this remarkable document was the "leader" of a gang of thieves, who the magazine interviews under pledge of total confidentiality.

In a nutshell, the manual's contents touch on such items as ideal size of a gang ("to gain respect of peers, a minimum of four"); and provide such advice as limiting discussion on planned targets in advance and completely isolating gang members on the day of a caper to prevent leaks; and being "equitable" in distribution of loot to prevent betrayal by dissatisfied members.

For their work attire, crooks are advised to wear gray or blue coveralls, even going so far as to affixing a yellow plastic armband reading "men at work." (Obviously to distract any eyewitnesses.) A baseball cap with the brim pulled low prevents facial features from being recorded on security cameras. A balaclava (mask) is recommended while the crime is in progress. Bringing along a Chinese broadsword, machete or taser gun is usually sufficient to keep security guards and good Samaritans at bay.

Commercial vans such as Toyota's Hi Ace are especially targeted for theft by teen groups, since they are ubiquitous and are frequently left unattended by maintenance crews and workers. A recent model year can easily be sold to a chop shop for 200,000 yen and up.

Perhaps the most vicious of all are robbers who target seniors who live alone, who are particularly vulnerable because they tend to occupy ground-floor apartments. Stealth is unnecessary; the thieves force their way in, restrain their victims and intimidate them into revealing the location of cash or valuables they have secreted in cabinets or chests of drawers.

Increasingly, the thefts and robberies previously committed by individuals are now being carried out by these groups. And since the current economic slump is likely to be a prolonged one, Spa! advises, don't expect their predatory activities to decline anytime soon. With the string of public holidays and weekends known as Golden Week just two weeks ahead, more people will be absent from home and work, creating lucrative opportunities for thieves. So extra precautions are definitely in order.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

16 Comments
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thanks for the heads up ;)

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A good idea to distribute the goods evenly. Hard to do with jewelery.

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wow, that is really sad

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This is a facsinating article. Another example of Japanese ingenuity.

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combinibento, do you mean ingenuity at writing, or at stealing?

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why would this pass the editor's board? Will part two be on boosting a car and syphoning gas? Lots of weird articles from JT lately...

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I wouldn't say ingenious as much as efficient. Why simply talk about violence when you can incite thousands of would-be robbers to plunder their grandparents instead? Ridiculous. The article should be pulled.

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At least Japanese youths don't have to steal to feed a drug habit. They will only be part-time crooks.

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very informative and well written piece.

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In Japan, even the thieves have to follow the rules in a manual.

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combinibento

So intimidating, terrorising and robbing elderly people is "an example of Japanese ingenuity", is it? Sheer cowardice is how i`d put it.

Den Den

If they dont steal to buy drugs, then why do they steal? Cant be to feed their kids cos theyre not having any!!! Must be to buy more rubbish like manga, games, keitai and go to maid cafes.

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sorry I meant to say it's a terrible piece and not fit to print, apologies.

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growing numbers of desperate jobless are turning to a tried-and-true source of employment: crime.

Every economic refugee... just a thief waiting to happen in "safe" Japan. All Japan needs now is a few unemployed fishermen and it can sponsor its own version of the Somali pirates.

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scaremongering! anybody can write a mannual on anything or even download the terrorists handbook from internet... ..but actually doing anything criminal...thats a different story! and bad choice..... youll get caught and suffer the consequences for being sucked into the idea!

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In Japan, even the thieves have to follow the rules in a manual.

It's so funny but true. Everyone in this country needs a manual to function as a human being. Now we learn that even crooks need a manual to tell them how to steal. Are Japanese just inherently stupid or what?

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Are Japanese just inherently stupid or what?

"And according to Spa! (Apr 14), "

Earth to marvenp.

"according to Spa!" I repeat

"according to Spa!"

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