A 32-year-old man in the town of Hino, Tokyo, was arrested late last week on suspicion of having entering a woman’s apartment and demanding that she hand over her underwear.

According to an FNN News report, the man crept into the premises before brandished a knife and telling the resident to surrender her panties, but was apprehended soon after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DadEtvV6I_g

Shouichiro Inenaga is believed to have snuck into the young woman’s apartment on the evening of 23 October, whereupon he grabbed her from behind, saying “Give me your underpants. Scream and I’ll stab you.”

Inenaga is reported to have been drunk upon the time of his almost immediate arrest, and protested loudly that he “didn’t do it!”, perhaps so inebriated that he had no recollection of the event.

Without wanting to detract from the seriousness of the crime, and –regardless of the prize the intruder sought– being threatened with a knife is no laughing matter, but when it comes to crime in Japan, men stealing underwear are usually considered to be the lowest of the low. To enter a person’s home or use force to commit a crime is one thing, but going all-out criminal entirely in the pursuit of a pair of undies is pretty pathetic, and many people are quick to snicker when they hear of a man doing something so ridiculously idiotic.

Maybe the thief didn’t get the memo that underwear, or pantsu as they’re known here in Japan, are readily available to buy in stores across the country or even online- no knives necessary. That said, perhaps only a fresh pair worn by a real woman would do?

Japan’s a safe country, but that doesn’t mean we should take unnecessary risks- keep those doors locked and those panties out of plain sight!

Source / video: FNN ニュース

Title image: Cowowyoshi edited by RocketNews24

*title photo used for image purposes only and in no way connected to this incident