Man arrested for stealing 30 garden ornaments to alleviate loneliness in Aichi

Friday 26th June, 03:00 PM JST

AICHI —

A 52-year-old unemployed man has been arrested for theft, accused of stealing a ceramic ornament from a home in Toyohashi City, police said Friday.

Osamu Kimura is accused of attempting to steal a ceramic “tanuki” raccoon dog from the home at around 11 p.m. Wednesday night. The 41-year-old male homeowner noticed Kimura in the garden holding a ceramic garden frog, and apprehended him after seeing the “tanuki” – measuring about 70 centimeters tall and worth approximately 10,000 yen - in the front basket of Kimura’s bicycle parked on the street.

Police searched Kimura’s home on Thursday and found 15 ceramic “tanuki” raccoon dogs in addition to ceramic dogs and frogs, seizing about 30 items in total.

Kimura told police that he was lonely living by himself since his father and brother had passed away. He said he had been stealing animal ornaments for about a year, and used to talk to them.

News reports

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15 Comments

realist at 04:39 PM JST - 26th June

I have lived in Jaspan for several decades, but recently, reading stories like this on an almost daily basis, I think that Japan has lost its marbles. I feel like I am living on a different, rmote planet, far away from the rest of the world. Its bizarre and unreal.
am1301 at 04:46 PM JST - 26th June

no garden gnomes in japan, guess this will have to do.
womanforwomen at 04:53 PM JST - 26th June

People make an effort and spend time with their loved ones and friends and sometimes neighbors in order not to feel lonely. Why is it so difficult for people to interact with neighbors and relatives. I was shocked the other day when an elderly gentleman came to the post office to withdraw 150,000yen. He could barely walk. How easy it would be for anyone to snatch the money away from him. Why could he not trust someone from his family to help him? He has chosen to do things alone and I am sure it is not easy. Loneliness can drive you nuts to the extent that you just don't realize what you are doing. Just like the 50 year old who was collecting the figurines by stealing.
IfeelImust at 04:56 PM JST - 26th June

Bottom of the barrel for news JT? Actually this is a common crime worldwide though usually gnomes. Since we don't have gnomes I guess am1301 is correct! anyway small when compared to this monster. http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,559251,00.html
electric2004 at 04:59 PM JST - 26th June

IfeelImust:

Talking about "Gartenzwerg" und "Maschendrahtzaun".
Sarge at 09:06 PM JST - 26th June

This is sad.
nandakandamanda at 09:15 PM JST - 26th June

Compared to other news today, this one has some meat on it.
usaexpat at 10:56 PM JST - 26th June

I think he had a sexual fetish for ceramic tanuki and that's how he was alleviating his lonliness. What a looney excuse, I think he's just a clepto.
Feekalmatter at 11:40 PM JST - 26th June

I'd rather talk to a ceramic Tanuki than a Pink Flamingo.
Michiko3 at 02:15 AM JST - 27th June

Ok, somebody needs some special attention from the psych ward.
bushlover at 08:57 AM JST - 27th June

Well it's better than going on a stabbing spee because you feel stress. Long live the ceramic tanuki scavenger!
bbqtatsujin at 01:39 AM JST - 28th June

If this is true, so sad. Talking to them? Guy needs friends.
bcbrownboy at 09:57 AM JST - 28th June

poor sick bngger
Cynthia at 09:41 AM JST - 3rd July

That so sad(like crying sad). The man has depression. So send a careteker to hang with him, if htat doesn't work, medicate him and if that fails, place him in a half-way house or something.
teleprompter at 09:51 AM JST - 3rd July

Headline makes it sound like the dude is a Robin Hood sorta character, and did what he did for his peeps y'all, in God-forsaken Aichi.