A 48-year-old unemployed woman was arrested on March 27 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, after allegedly stealing around 160 items—primarily sugar packets, gum syrup, and milk creamers—from a convenience store’s self-service coffee area.
The suspect, a resident of Tachiarai Town in Fukuoka Prefecture, reportedly denied committing theft, telling the police, “I took them because they were free.”
The incident occurred at around 11:25 a.m. on March 12. Security camera footage showed the woman entering the store and placing a large number of sugar sticks, gum syrup, and creamer packs, provided for customers who purchase coffee, into her backpack. She then left the store without buying any drinks or other products.
The stolen items were valued at approximately 395 yen (about $2.60). After noticing the missing items, the store manager reported the incident to local police, who identified the woman from security footage and other evidence, leading to her arrest.