"Eccentric Motive 'Wanted to Smell'... Japanese Man in His 30s Steals Only Women's Shoes"

Swapping with New Shoes After Stealing

A man who stole only women's shoes in Japan was arrested by the police. Photo by ANNnewsCH YouTube channel video capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man who stole women's shoes in Japan has been caught by the police.

On the 10th, Sora News 24 reported that a man in his 30s who stole shoes worn by a woman and swapped them with new shoes was charged with theft.

On January 30th, a woman in her 20s living in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, reported to the police after noticing that her worn-out shoes had been completely replaced with new ones when she left work.

The woman said, "My completely ruined 5,000 yen (about 50,000 won) shoes had turned into new shoes when I left work. It was very strange," adding, "The shoes were so worn out that I wobbled every time I walked. But the shoes I changed into when leaving work felt completely different."

A man who stole only women's shoes in Japan was arrested by the police. Photo by ANNnewsCH YouTube channel video capture.

The police, who started an investigation, arrested the suspect on the 6th, two months after the incident.

Katsu Hiroaki (33) admitted to stealing the shoes. He stated that the reason for the crime was "I wanted to smell women's shoes."

Suspecting there might be other victims due to the bizarre motive and meticulous method, the police searched the suspect's house and found 20 pairs of shoes believed to belong to different women. The women's shoes he had included various types such as loafers, flats, and pumps. The suspect confessed that he stole all of them with the same motive and method.

On the day of the incident, around 10:30 a.m., Katsu committed the crime while the complainant, a music school teacher, had changed into slippers and was working. He stole the complainant's worn-out shoes left aside and replaced them with new shoes that matched the brand, style, color, and size exactly. It was reported that he had no prior acquaintance with the complainant.

The police believe Katsu committed the crime in a highly planned manner and are checking whether there are additional charges that can be applied to the suspect besides theft.