A 36-year-old man and his 33-year-old wife have been arrested for forcing their three young elementary school children to shoplift at a fishing goods store in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture.
According to police, last Oct 25, the couple, who are from Toyonaka City, forced their two sons and one daughter (aged 14, 12 and 9), to steal three fishing gear sets valued at 17,000 yen from a store in Suita City, TBS reported Monday.
Footage captured by a security camera installed in the store shows the couple handing the fishing gear to their kids and directing them to leave the store. However, the couple have denied the charges, claiming that their children stole the gear of their own accord.
According to police, emails from the father to the kids indicate that the parents had ordered the children to shoplift before. The parents were arrested last November on a separate shoplifting charge involving their oldest son, TBS reported.
© Japan Today
23 Comments
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wockster@gmail.com
Unbelievable that they then try to pass the blame on to their own children even when present with video evidence.
khulifi
Stupid , I thought they are shoplifting for food ...
avigator
Get a job.
zones2surf
@Farmboy: Nice way to find levity in what is an otherwise very screwed up situation. Talk about kids that will be messed up. This has generational implications.
I'll finish the saying for you. "Teach a man to shoplift a fishing rod and he will be fed and have a place to sleep for 5 to 10 years."
CrazyJoe
Miserable parents.
Commodore Shmidlap (Retired)
Sometimes I feel families here should participate more in bonding activities, but this is a little much.
tapi0ca
ahhh... you beat me to it, Farmboy. Good job, and nice twist on the semi-punchline ~^.^/
Novenachama
Basically children regardless of their age pick parents as their number one role model. The most important thing you need to know about children is example, example, example because the only way to raise a decent human being is by being one. So what a child becomes probably has most of all to do with the example set by those who raise them. Shame on these parents.
Spanki
With CCTV evidence the police have got them hook, line and sinker
zurcronium
Kids should be put in a proper home where they can learn why what their parents were making them do is wrong.
ReformedBasher
Make the parents clean the shop, with the staff and kids watching, for a few months. The kids will get the hint.
As a bonus, if the kids help, they get some kind of reward (maybe fishing rods and tackle?). This should teach them that doing the right thing has it's benefits.
If the above fails, maybe a better home is what's needed.
ReformedBasher
That's just sad. Really feel sorry for these kids.
Yoshimi Onishi
I wonder what's going to happen to the children. Someone said in his comment that the oldest is already in a juvenile home. If so, what will happen to the other two children? Their parents will most probably be put behind bars. Like most people here, I really feel sorry for them.
Brian Wheway
I leaves me speechless, how low or stupid can parents get?
erbaviva
parents were employed but they are receiving welfare money? how is this possible?
Stewart Gale
Accusing their own children of the theft, that's about as low an act as I've ever heard.
Wc626
Crazy. So what's next for this family, a dine n' dash @ some expensive restaurant?
Chop Chop
It was shocking news. The children must be removed from their parent care.
kokoro7
Those who defy social norms and rob, steal, rape, burglarize, etc, know it's wrong, but they don't care. Thus, they have no conscience. Hopefully, they'll do some time, both for the crime of stealing, but also for just being STUPID, which in their case, ought to be a crime. When they get out, they'll do it again.
Nur Fatyhuh
The parents should not do that,no matter how hard their life.If one day their children become real thife,they are the one that should be blame.