OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested 37-year-old man from Osaka City for allegedly breaking into schools and stealing gym clothes and uniforms for boys, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (Jan. 27).
Between May of last year and December of last year, Hiroshi Ishikawa, an office worker, allegedly broke into elementary and junior high schools a total of six times and stole eight items, including gym clothes and blazers.
The eight items have a value of 20,500 yen, police said.
During questioning, Ishikawa, who lives in the Suminoe Ward, admitted to the charges. “I was interested in boys. I would steal them, wear them and touch them,” he said.
In December last year, Ishikawa was spotted by staff breaking into a school in Suminoe to steal gym clothes.
Police officers rushed to the scene and arrested Ishikawa on the spot on suspicion of trespassing.
According to the police, Ishikawa posed as a parent, claiming to have come to return something his nephew had forgotten. He was subsequently indicted on suspicion of theft and other offenses.