Japan’s shoplifters hate a simple ‘hello’ more than cameras
Experts say that in an age of urban isolation, the pressure of ‘real human eyes’ creates more panic in thieves than hi-tech security
Shoplifting has grown steadily worse in Japan in recent years – a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Okubo, a professor of criminal psychology at Kagawa University. He says official case numbers reflect only a fraction of the real total.
“The prefecture where I reside, Kagawa, held the dubious distinction of having the highest number of reported shoplifting incidents in Japan for seven consecutive years until 2009,” Okubo told This Week in Asia.
To tackle the growing crime wave, prefectural police turned to Okubo for help. His initial research spanned both offenders and the broader public, from students to parents and shop owners, to understand what drives theft.
Working alongside a professional shoplifting investigator, Okubo helped apprehend suspects and trained store staff in theft prevention, including creating a practical handbook for preventing theft at self-checkout counters.
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The scale of the problem is daunting, he admits.