A 7-Eleven convenience store in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture was the scene of a daring late-night armed robbery earlier this week as an unidentified young man held clerks at knife-point and made off with a total of three onigiri rice balls, whose combined value came to approximately 300 yen (US$2.94).

He’d have gotten away with too, if it hadn’t been for the bread delivery guy…

According to police, at around 4:25am on 3 May, a 23-year-old office worker allegedly entered the 7-Eleven much like any other customer. As he approached the 26-year-old woman standing beside the counter, however, he revealed two knives, holding one in each hand.

With a knife pressed against one of the clerks, he said, “Onigiri will do.” The other woman working there was confused and asked whether he wanted money.The suspect did not respond, however, and made the employees turn around and face the register while he hurried to the onigiri corner in the store to make his score.

He hurriedly grabbed one shrimp and mayo rice ball and a couple of tuna mayos and ran out of the store.

The suspect’s caper had appeared successful but unbeknownst to him, there was a third person inside the store. A man from the baked goods supplier was making a delivery at the same time and was stocking shelves in the back. Upon seeing the suspect run out of the store, he went in pursuit.

As he trailed the young bandit, the bread man dialed 110 on his mobile phone and called the authorities. Police swiftly rendezvoused with them and took down the suspect approximately 300 meters from the store.

According to the authorities, the onigiri bandit was intoxicated at the time of the robbery, but they are still looking into a motive beyond him being wasted. It’s unclear what became of the rice balls.

This is a controversial opinion, but I’m going to point the finger solely at 7-Eleven for this incident. Their onigiri seemed to have been getting more and more delicious with each passing year. It was simply a matter of time before drunk office workers would resort to armed robbery just to get some of those savory snacks.

I’ve already done my part by going to a 7-Eleven and buying as many onigiri as I can to get them off the streets and out of the hands of alleged maniacs like this suspect. I could tell the staff appreciated my protection by the way they said “thank you” when I handed them the money and again when I walked out of the store. I recommend you also go to your local 7-Eleven and secure some onigiri.

Together we can make a difference.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun (Japanese)
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Inset Image: RocketNews24