Lonely Japanese Seniors Turn to Crime
October 14, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Depression
Sounds like a trashy tabloid headline, doesn’t it? But, it’s not far from the truth.
In Japan, seniors are beginning to be the largest portion of the population- almost 20%, and this number is set to double by the middle of the century. Japanese couples are having fewer children and are busy with their own lives, leaving the seniors to their own devices.
Citing loneliness as their reason, many of these elderly people have turned to shoplifting. Often, they don’t do it because they need the items, they do it because it gets them out of the house and gives them a thrill. Considering how law-abiding Japanese society is, this is a long stretch from how they likely behaved as youngsters.
Latest statistics show that seniors (over 65 years old) made up 23% of known shoplifting cases (17,800), never mind all the ones that weren’t found. When they are caught, the seniors tell authorities that they turned to shoplifting because they had no reason to live, that they were lonely.
Lonely and isolated seniors is a serious issue though. One that many countries will have to grapple with as the populations age in the more developed countries. And, while this story does have its amusing part, it’s also quite sad.
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Image: PhotoXpress.com
