Woman arrested for allegedly kidnapping baby girl from Chiba station building

Thursday 04th June, 01:44 PM JST

CHIBA —

Chiba prefectural police on Wednesday arrested a 28-year-old woman for allegedly kidnapping a 1-year-old girl from the Station Building located at Keisei Usui station in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture. Rumi Ohashi, a resident of Utsunomiya, allegedly grabbed the girl who was standing a few meters behind her mother, just after 10 a.m. and ran away with her.

Police said the girl’s mother had been shopping with the child. When the mother saw Ohashi pick up her daughter, she gave chase and caught her about 200 meters away. Ohashi fled but was apprehended by police an hour later about a kilometer away from the south exit of Usui station.

Ohashi was quoted by police as saying that she “wanted a child.”

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

Samuraiiki at 02:58 PM JST - 4th June

Some of those twenty something year olds can be quite lunatic. They seem to be in the limbo not accepting that they are no longer kids and not wanting to come into the world of responsible adults.
WilliB at 03:15 PM JST - 4th June

stirfry:

" jeez what a dumb broad...just hang out at the baby hatch, shouldn't be more than a day or two til an unwanted kid gets dropped off "

Or just hang out at a Roppongi bar and make your own, to state the obvious.

"I wanted a child"... jeeses! What a dumb excuse.
Wakarimasen at 03:29 PM JST - 4th June

Men in Roppongi are not totally undiscriminating. Maybe she just isn't good looking enough for your average Roppongi Barfly........ Hanging out at the baby hatch seems a much more likely option.
saborichan at 03:54 PM JST - 4th June

What a bizarre act. What did this person THINK was going to happen? That she could just get herself a Kawaii Newborn (TM) and take it home?
Den Den at 04:12 PM JST - 4th June

She should of made serious preparations first. Remember a baby is not just for Xmas! Clothes and toys, cot and strollers, food and nappies, all need to considered before picking up a child. She also needs a substantial budget, and as I assume she is single, daycare must be planned. School zoning is also important.
WilliB at 05:06 PM JST - 4th June

timorborder:

" Finally, while Mom was chasing this woman, did anybody seem fit to get involved or did everybody just decide to mind their own business. "

I am not sure if it is so easy to "get involved". If you see a woman running with a small child, do you automatically think something is wrong? I don´t think so, either. And if you do start messing with a woman and a screaming 1-year old, doesn´t it look to everyone else as if you are doing something wrong?

Baby theft is not something that is usually on people´s radar.
dishdash at 06:58 PM JST - 4th June

Good on the mum! I hope she gave the woman a good 1-2. Unfortunately this type of thing is too prevalent in all societies.
Disillusioned at 07:53 PM JST - 4th June

So, a one year old kid was standing on a train platform 'a few meters away' from her mother? SOP!
Mz at 08:13 PM JST - 4th June

Timorborder(and I'm sure there'll be others) - not mother's fault
sydenham at 08:15 PM JST - 4th June

uhh, i don't think this woman is playing with a full deck. or had a recent breakdown. guess that's the obvious explanation.
Disillusioned at 08:48 PM JST - 4th June

Just watch your kids closely people. These nuts are not Japan specific.
kirakira25 at 12:18 AM JST - 5th June

The very fact that the mother saw her and gave chase means that she had her eye on the child. I think this is one case where the mother cannot be blamed. Anyone who has ever had a 1 year old who is starting to walk will know it is virtually impossible to keep them tethered to you every second.
kaminarioyaji at 01:36 AM JST - 5th June

The titles ambiguous. Shouldnt it read "...station building in Chiba"?
beavis at 02:22 AM JST - 5th June

@Disillusioned

So, a one year old kid was standing on a train platform 'a few meters away' from her mother? SOP!

My thoughts exactly

@kirakira25

Anyone who has ever had a 1 year old who is starting to walk will know it is virtually impossible to keep them tethered to you every second.

As I amiably suggested on the other thread, it only takes a second for something to happen. Become better with your tethering techniques.
cleo at 02:25 AM JST - 5th June

So, a one year old kid was standing on a train platform 'a few meters away' from her mother? SOP! My thoughts exactly

The Station Building is a shop, not a train platform.