Parents held for allegedly ordering 11-yr-old son to shoplift rice, apple juice

Friday 04th September, 03:46 PM JST

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seggahme at 07:27 PM JST - 4th September

what a bad kid! bad not for to steal, but for to be caught.
JasUK at 08:37 PM JST - 4th September

Well i suppose the domain name sums it up "japantoday"...('o')
stirfry at 10:06 PM JST - 4th September

so dad figured sonny could carry 45 pounds of rice in one shot, while hiding it, no less...not the brightest bulb in the box, is he ?
Disillusioned at 10:48 PM JST - 4th September
reported the boy’s case as possible child abuse to a child welfare center around spring of 2008. His teacher had discovered bruises on his body and he told the teacher that he had been beaten by his father, according to the education board of the city.

A true life Oliver Twist story. Yet another black eye for Japan's family services. They had evidence of abuse a year ago. Now, the kid has been caught steeling for his father in fear of getting another beating? Child welfare? Gimme a break!
- However, in defense of the child welfare agency. If they were to take every child out of a dis-functional and abusive family they would have would have more children in foster care than eligible foster parents. Just be glad it is not your kid.
usaexpat at 10:55 PM JST - 4th September

Sad, the items they were stealing weren't exactly luxuries so it sounds like the family is pretty hard up.
animallover at 11:11 PM JST - 4th September

Poor kid.Poor parents...
bobbafett at 01:42 AM JST - 5th September

I agree with usaexpat. Its a very sad situation for this hard up family but if I was the father I would not hide behind my son to provide. I quick trip out to the countryside can get you some fruit and veggies if you want steal and no one notices.
bdiego at 02:43 AM JST - 5th September

Not only child abuse, but these parents are pretty dumb. Asking a kid to shoplift 44 pounds of rice (two 10 kg bags), how do you expect him to go unnoticed and outrun anyone?
Hephatsheput at 03:56 AM JST - 5th September

Are the parents that broke? I think these parents should know better, and that anyone who has a cunning plan should be able to steal without being noticed.
DarkKnightNine at 03:24 PM JST - 5th September

Sign of the times. The hardships facing the world is bring out the worst in people. It's a sad day for humanity.
saborichan at 04:04 PM JST - 5th September

But how do you steal 2 bags of rice without anyone noticing?

That kid probably only weighs 60k at best!
aelieth at 10:30 PM JST - 6th September

Well, if he had been doing it for some time it sounds like he just got greedy. Maybe he had just been doing little bits at a time before, but went for a big grab this time.

I still argue against those that continue to say this is a sign of bad times. Parents having their kids steal is still a commonality among the dishonest, my father was put through it too but he turned out ok in the end. I'm glad he did... most don't.
shayouzoku at 05:52 PM JST - 7th September

an 11 year old weighing 60kg? sounds like he's eating the family out of house and home, no wonder he had to steal!
Monoflow at 08:29 PM JST - 7th September

I guess, it was fathers idea... Probably should spend his money on food, than on pachinko...
kokorocloud at 07:21 AM JST - 8th September

That poor child. People who make their children do these things are the worst kind of people. If you want to be a scumbag and steal, do it yourself. Don't drag your children into it and make THEM the criminal. They don't have any choice but to comply, since you are the PARENT and thus the one person they have to trust in and answer to at that age! What kid goes around stealing rice for fun? Obviously someone was telling him to do it. Ugh. And the abuse part just makes me even more ill...