A peculiar mystery unfolded at a kindergarten in southwestern Japan when teachers and parents suspected a shoe thief was targeting the institution. The unexpected resolution came from security footage which pointed to a rather unusual suspect: a weasel.
In an unusual turn of events, police in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan, initially feared a person with a peculiar interest in children’s shoes when several slip-on shoes started disappearing from a kindergarten. These shoes, traditionally worn indoors, had teachers and parents concerned until a more light-hearted explanation surfaced.
Authorities at the kindergarten decided to investigate the unusual thefts by installing three security cameras. Upon reviewing the footage, they discovered that the perpetrator was not a person, but a wild weasel. This revelation brought relief to the worried community.
Hiroaki Inada, the Deputy Police Chief, expressed this sentiment stating, ‘It’s great it turned out not to be a human being.’ The presence of a weasel explained the disappearance of shoes, which had initially raised fears of a disturbed individual.
The kindergarten reported the disappearance of about 15 shoes initially, followed by the theft of six more the subsequent day. On November 11, the weasel made yet another visit and took an additional shoe, a scene captured by the security cameras. This mischievous animal was selective, opting only for the white canvas indoor shoes, presumably due to their lightweight nature.
Yoshihide Saito, the director of the kindergarten, shared that upon review of the footage, a sense of relief and amusement took over, as both staff and children could see the humorous side of the situation. Although the missing footwear was never recovered, precautions were taken to prevent further incidents by securing the storage cubbyholes with protective nets.
Despite these measures, the weasel remains at large, much to the amusement and relief of the school community. Weasels, known for their tendency to hoard items, were previously unfamiliar to the school, adding an unforeseen twist to this peculiar series of thefts.
The curious case of the vanishing shoes at the kindergarten concluded on a light note, with the community relieved and entertained by the discovery. While the wayward weasel might still roam free, the educational institution has fortified its defenses against any future shoe-loving intrusions.
Source: Local10
