Those boots weren’t made for walking away with.

In tough economic times, where even stores are switching to automated checkouts to save money, it’s no surprise that incidents of shoplifting have been steadily rising in Japan. To combat this, some retailers have employed what are known as “manbiki G-men,” plainclothes security guards whose role is to patrol stores and prevent sticky-fingered shoppers.

Although the name is a throwback to prohibition-era FBI agents in the USA, these guards have no government authority like the police. Instead, they keep an eye on shoppers, shadow anyone suspected of shoplifting until they leave the store without paying, and then make a citizen’s arrest.

But having manbiki G-men watch shoppers begs the question of who is watching the manbiki G-men. The answer to that question has revealed itself recently at a home improvement store in Hiroshima Prefecture on 27 October. 

▼ The incident occurred at the Home Plaza Nafco in the picturesque town of Sera.

At about 11 a.m. on that morning, a plainclothes police officer spotted the plainclothes security guard taking a single rubber boot, concealing it in his clothing, and attempting to take it from the store without paying. It was later revealed that the man is actually employed by the same store as a manbiki G-man, but it is unclear if he was on duty at the time of the incident.

About a month prior to this, the store had contacted police about an uptick in shoplifting there, which put them on high alert. After being arrested on-site by the plainclothes police officer, the 66-year-old suspect admitted to the crime, saying he stole the single boot because he needed it.

Though with a tragically ironic twist, it was an open-and-shut case. Once again, a man’s desire for a single rubber boot corrupted him to the point of abusing the power entrusted to him by his employer.

“It’s always darkest right under the lighthouse.”
“I guess they need some manbiki G-men G-men.”
“Maybe he was just trying to get inside the head of his target.”
“Are they not even paying their G-men enough to get some rubber boots?”
“We’re not going to make it, are we? The country, I mean.”
“You either die a G-man or live long enough to become a shoplifter.”
“Fascinating! It’s like the end of a Poirot story.”
“I wonder if he just needed one boot or was planning to make two trips.”

Regardless of whether or not he really did need a second piece of footwear, we can be certain the home improvement store will be figuratively giving him the boot. Hopefully, he was just caught up in the thrill and excitement of stealing some Wellies, because that’s at least slightly less bleak than an employed person being unable to afford a pair on his own.

So, let that be a lesson to all you junior G-men out there. While bustin’ two-bit flimflammers, it can be right tempting to get yer mitts on some cabbage for yourself too, but the only easy street that lands you on leads straight to the hoosegow. 

Source: TBS News Dig, Itai News
Photo ©SoraNews24
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