Go Native 70 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Originally Posted By: Creek Boy There are just as many J-thieves. CB I doubt very much this is true. One of the main differences between say Aus and here (in terms of crime) is that Japan doesn't appear to have anywhere near the same issues with hard drugs, in particular heroin. In Aus something like 70% of the crime committed is basically so heroin addicts can attempt to pay for their addiction. You've been over here way too long if you truly believe crime levels here are anything even approaching the levels back in western countries. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 If there are just as many J-thieves, then they're simply rubbish at what they do. Monty Python style thieves perhaps. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Where there are opportunists, there be thieves. As simple as that. Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 It will be intersting to see if the current economic hardships cause an increase in crime. a nice new, but otherwise unaffordable snowboard might be just too tempting... Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 do a search gareth_oau on google - you'll find plenty of stories to whet your appetite. Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 was that google, or e-bay? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 ba-doom-tish touch wood - not had anything stolen but took the safety of tagging my stuff. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: Go Native Originally Posted By: Creek Boy There are just as many J-thieves. CB I doubt very much this is true. One of the main differences between say Aus and here (in terms of crime) is that Japan doesn't appear to have anywhere near the same issues with hard drugs, in particular heroin. In Aus something like 70% of the crime committed is basically so heroin addicts can attempt to pay for their addiction. GN, I hate to break it to you but Japan has a big drug problem with ice, but unlike say oz for example, doesn't publicise it in the media. Kind of swept under the carpet and all hush hush. Maybe not in your little sheltered world in Kutchan, but in many other places. My rule of thumb is really, no matter how safe the place might seem to be, lock up your stuff if you don't want it flogged. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 There's a big (or is it massive?) difference between 'big' and 'massive'. Link to post Share on other sites
dawnblue 0 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: RobBright ba-doom-tish touch wood - not had anything stolen but took the safety of tagging my stuff. What do you mean by 'tagging'? How can I engrave(?) my name, postcode on my new board? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: Indo Originally Posted By: Go Native Originally Posted By: Creek Boy There are just as many J-thieves. CB I doubt very much this is true. One of the main differences between say Aus and here (in terms of crime) is that Japan doesn't appear to have anywhere near the same issues with hard drugs, in particular heroin. In Aus something like 70% of the crime committed is basically so heroin addicts can attempt to pay for their addiction. GN, I hate to break it to you but Japan has a big drug problem with ice, but unlike say oz for example, doesn't publicise it in the media. Kind of swept under the carpet and all hush hush. Maybe not in your little sheltered world in Kutchan, but in many other places. My rule of thumb is really, no matter how safe the place might seem to be, lock up your stuff if you don't want it flogged. From Wikipedia regarding drug use in Japan 'Incidence of drug abuse is minuscule, compared with other industrialized nations and limited mainly to stimulants.' Indo I didn't say there's no drug abuse in Japan but was pointing out that Japan has a lot less crime due to drugs. I found the following stats for each country Aus Burglaries (per capita) 21.7454 per 1,000 people Japan Burglaries (per capita) 2.3269 per 1,000 people So from this there's close to 10 times the amount of burglaries per capita in Aus compared to Japan. I've never once locked my house since living in Kutchan and don't lock my car whilst it's parked at home. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites
s3phis 0 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I don't know much about thefts but there's always cases of mistaken property. When everyone has their skis/boards/stocks out the front of shops, a lot of people tend to accidentally take someone else's... it's quite a hassle to try and get everything back to their owners. You'd be suprised how many thousands of dollars of property is left behind at the end of season (everything from video cameras to racing skis :S) Link to post Share on other sites
nzlegend 1 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I had a brand new pair of Goretex gloves go walkies from a backpackers in Hakuba about 6 years ago... Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Never had a problem myself. As big a problem with robbery in Japan as in the US/UK/Australia? I have no stats, but based on experience living here it sounds a ludicrous claim. (Though certainly problems such as this are increasing). Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: SG I had a brand new pair of Goretex gloves go walkies from a backpackers in Hakuba about 6 years ago... And, who'd you suspect? Locals or visitors?? My money'd be on visitors. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Pretty much tagged and numbered like a bicycle. Link to post Share on other sites
reev 0 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I heard a number of jackets have been stolen from Hirafu pubs/bars, be careful, then again Hirafu really isn't Japan. A few years back a buddy of mine had some stuff stolen when we were up for a nighter at Teine in Sapporo. Best to be careful and lock your stuff up tight wherever you go in this world... Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I did not hear of many stolen incident in Zao. Many people bring lost things to a lost area and people who lose them can maybe find them there and collect. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 We have board locks and stick them in the suitcase EVERY trip - but never use them! LOL Maybe I should! Never had anything stolen in Japan. Did not have anything stolen in Zermatt. Never had anything 'stolen' in Australia, but lost plenty of stuff. Firstly the little kid lost 3 pairs of gloves and 2 buffs on ONE 4 day trip - none turned up in lost property (even after we left). Finally bought him a pair of CHEAP gloves instead of the expensive ones, and guess what - not lost them! LOL Finally on the girls trip to Thredbo last year we hired a board in Jindy for a friend, and after lunch on day one it was gone. Funny though we found almost identical board on the next rack - so we took the afternoon off and waited to see if anyone claimed that board. Turned out no-one did....ahhhhh HA! Mistaken board. So we switched the bindings (she is goofy - other board was set up natural) and rode the rest of the weekend. returned the board to the hire shop on the way (paperwork was in the car and we only realised it was from the SAME shop when we were leaving) - and turns out they had the other board on the rack - returned by the unaware natural rider. Using a lock would have saved us some time off the snow. Link to post Share on other sites
midnightcharger2 0 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 last year a guy of ours lost a brand new zepplin board with new bindings on his first day out with it. he was gone for a matter of a minute and came out and the board went MIA. So the group of us waited at the bottom in chance that someone else had taken it (by mistake or purpose) When all was said and done, We found a guy that was trying to get on the lift. We pulled him aside and it turned out that, he had the same board, but catch this, the bindings were the same make but different color and the base of the board was likewise a different color then that of this guy. It was a bit odd not to notice the color differences, but it happened. I dont care if I am boarding on a mountain full of monks, if I dont have a line of sight on my gear, its locked. Snowboards are one of those items where just about any mountain you go to, someone else is bound to have a similar setup. And unless you have some mark that can be easily distinguished to the original owner, you could just kiss your gear goodbye. Even in a dispute. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I see almost nobody locking their gear here. In Zao, even winter many people use ropeway for tourist sightseeing and so go up without ski or snowboard. Even skier leave ski and snowboard long time at top while they go looking at the snow monster. I only heard of one time with someone reporting snowboard taken by someone else. I hope it does not increase but I think it is a good idea to lock. Link to post Share on other sites
Deltaone1 0 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 my mate got his jacket stolen from a bar in niseko, could only be gaijin hah Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 Glad to hear that is hasn't happened to too many people. Guess the moral is that no matter where you go it's better to be safe than sorry! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Definitely. I do hear more of things being stolen these days, but that's a slight increase from zero when I first came here. Link to post Share on other sites
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