This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/01/foxes-stole-my-sandals-nagaokakyo-japan-shoe-thieves-found
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
'Foxes stole my sandals': Nagaokakyo's shoe thieves found | 'Foxes stole my sandals': Nagaokakyo's shoe thieves found |
(about 2 months later) | |
It began at midnight: a six-hour police stakeout to catch the shoe-loving thieves who had pilfered 40 pairs of sandals from a neighbourhood in Japan. | It began at midnight: a six-hour police stakeout to catch the shoe-loving thieves who had pilfered 40 pairs of sandals from a neighbourhood in Japan. |
Finally, the officers found the main suspects: a pair of sly foxes. | Finally, the officers found the main suspects: a pair of sly foxes. |
“I can’t believe that foxes stole my sandals,” a resident, 36, told the Mainichi newspaper. | “I can’t believe that foxes stole my sandals,” a resident, 36, told the Mainichi newspaper. |
Police began their investigation after receiving reports of footwear mysteriously disappearing from eight households in Nagaokakyo, in the greater Kyoto region, about 235 miles (380km) west of Tokyo. | Police began their investigation after receiving reports of footwear mysteriously disappearing from eight households in Nagaokakyo, in the greater Kyoto region, about 235 miles (380km) west of Tokyo. |
Five police officers were involved in the stakeout in the early hours of 20 May. This culminated in the discovery of two foxes in the garden of an empty house, with 40 pairs of shoes scattered around a burrow, the Mainichi reported. | Five police officers were involved in the stakeout in the early hours of 20 May. This culminated in the discovery of two foxes in the garden of an empty house, with 40 pairs of shoes scattered around a burrow, the Mainichi reported. |
Kyoto city zoo’s chief, Naoki Yamashita, speculated that the foxes “could have been building a burrow to breed and collected the sandals out of their instinct to stock up on food and other items”. | Kyoto city zoo’s chief, Naoki Yamashita, speculated that the foxes “could have been building a burrow to breed and collected the sandals out of their instinct to stock up on food and other items”. |
My battle with the urban fox | My battle with the urban fox |
Police have reportedly issued a warning to local residents to keep their shoes inside their homes to prevent any further disappearances. | Police have reportedly issued a warning to local residents to keep their shoes inside their homes to prevent any further disappearances. |
The Nagaokakyo animals are not the first shoe-stealing foxes. In 2009, authorities in the small western German town of Föhren said a fox was responsible for stealing more than 100 shoes. | The Nagaokakyo animals are not the first shoe-stealing foxes. In 2009, authorities in the small western German town of Föhren said a fox was responsible for stealing more than 100 shoes. |
The journalist Peter Beaumont wrote an article for the Observer in 2013 on his battle with foxes near his home in north London. | The journalist Peter Beaumont wrote an article for the Observer in 2013 on his battle with foxes near his home in north London. |
“One morning I came down to find seven shoes ranging in size from that of a toddler to an adult trainer sitting in the middle of the lawn, none of them a pair,” he wrote. | “One morning I came down to find seven shoes ranging in size from that of a toddler to an adult trainer sitting in the middle of the lawn, none of them a pair,” he wrote. |
In 2014, a resident in Farlington, Portsmouth, reported finding more than 50 shoes along a path near a fox den. Those responsible seemed to prefer trainers and work boots, the resident said at the time. | In 2014, a resident in Farlington, Portsmouth, reported finding more than 50 shoes along a path near a fox den. Those responsible seemed to prefer trainers and work boots, the resident said at the time. |
Japan | Japan |
Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
Animals | Animals |
news | news |
Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
Share via Email | Share via Email |
Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
Reuse this content | Reuse this content |