Japan - Underwear Theft A Growing Problem?

What is it about women's underwear that makes people want to steal them. Japan seems to have a lot of panty thief's. Last week a 54  year old Japanese man was busted when he tried stealing his neighbours underwear.

The would be underewar thief used a 4 ft fishing pole to try and catch himself some undies, his attempt was foiled however because the rightful owner, a 21 year old woman and her husband observed the attempted theft taking place.

The 21 year old lady owner of the undies called police while her husband held the thief in a choke hold until police arrived on the scene.

Japan seems to have a history of underwear thieves.

A 45-year-old identified as Yoshio Fukasawa from Hokutoman was arrested for stealing women’s underwear from a laundromat in Yamanashi Prefecture, Yoshio apparently stole over 400 items, including around 200 pairs of  stockings.


Then there was 60-year-old Maeyasu Kawamura who admited stealing around 8,200 items of womens underwear and other items of clothing. The 60 year old had suck a stash at his one bedroom apartment it took five mini buses to transport the clothing — including a wedding dress from the apartment to the police station.

Apparently he liked to wrap the underwear and other garments around himself when he slept.

Or 50 yr old Nagoya, who was arrested after police seized 1,700 pieces of underwear and other items from a garage he used. The 50 year old was accused of breaking a window of a 43 year old office worker and then stealing 67 items of underwear.


Another underwear theft involved 46-year-old Kazuo Miyake, who was arrested for trespassing. When police searched his home they confiscated about 2,500 items of women’s underwear.


Then there was a 42-year-old family man who was stealing underwear while on his way home from work.


In another incident 1,000 items of women’s undergarments were found at the home of a man who was arrested for theft after being caught stealing some of the items back.