About 200 bunches of Shine Muscat grapes stolen in Niigata, damage around ¥400,000
In short
About 200 bunches of Shine Muscat grapes were stolen from a vineyard in Minami Ward, Niigata City, with damage estimated at about ¥400,000, police said. The theft is believed to have happened between the evening of Oct 4 and the morning of Oct 5. Police are investigating it as a theft case, and TBS NEWS DIG reported it is the fourth grape theft in the jurisdiction, with police also looking at the possibility of a series of thefts.
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About 200 bunches of Shine Muscat grapes were stolen from a vineyard in Minami Ward, Niigata City, with damage estimated at about ¥400,000, police said. Nippon TV News, TBS NEWS DIG and Livedoor News all reported that police are investigating the case as a theft. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
According to police, the grapes were taken from the field between about 5 p.m. on Oct 4 and about 7 a.m. on Oct 5. The victim reported to police at about 8 a.m. on Oct 5 that grapes had been stolen from the field. Livedoor News, citing a reporter at the site, said the owner found the grapes gone when he visited at about 7 a.m. and that marks suggesting the bunches were cut with a tool remained. [ 1 , 4 ]
TBS NEWS DIG reported that grape thefts have been frequent in the jurisdiction and that this is the fourth case, with police investigating on the assumption that it may be a series of thefts. Nippon TV News reported that the field is a vinyl greenhouse but that police have not disclosed whether it was locked. [ 1 , 2 ]
The grower told reporters he feels anger, according to Nippon TV News and Livedoor News, and Livedoor News reported that he had installed a security camera in August this year. [ 3 , 4 ]
Police are calling on farmers to install security cameras and sensor lights and to report to police if they see unfamiliar people or vehicles, Nippon TV News reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case points to repeated thefts of high-value grapes in the Niigata City area, a concern for local growers approaching harvest. Police are urging farmers to install security cameras and sensor lights and to report unfamiliar people or vehicles. TBS NEWS DIG reported the theft is the fourth in the jurisdiction, and police are investigating whether the cases are linked.
Key facts
- About 200 bunches of Shine Muscat grapes were stolen from a vineyard in Minami Ward, Niigata City. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The damage is estimated at about ¥400,000. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The theft is believed to have occurred between about 5 p.m. on Oct 4 and about 7 a.m. on Oct 5. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The victim reported the theft to police at about 8 a.m. on Oct 5. [ 1 ]
- Police are investigating the case as a theft. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reported it is the fourth grape theft in the jurisdiction, and police are investigating the possibility of a series of thefts. [ 2 ]
- A reporter said the grapes appeared to have been cut with a tool, and the grower said he feels anger. [ 4 ]
- The grower had installed a security camera in August this year. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the greenhouse at the site was locked. Nippon TV News reported that police have not disclosed whether the greenhouse was locked.
- Whether the theft is linked to other grape thefts in the area. TBS NEWS DIG reported only that police are investigating with the possibility of a series of thefts in mind; it is a single-source account and no suspect has been identified in the documents.
- Who carried out the theft and how. The documents give no information on suspects; a reporter's observation of cut marks is not attributed to police.
- The theft is believed to have happened between the evening of Oct 4 and the morning of Oct 5. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Start of the period in which the grapes are believed to have been stolen, according to police. [ 1 ]
- The owner visited the field and found the Shine Muscat grapes gone, according to a reporter at the site. [ 4 ]
- The victim reported to police that grapes had been stolen from the field. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV News reported the theft and the estimated damage. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reported the case as the fourth grape theft in the jurisdiction and said police are also investigating the possibility of a series of thefts. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News and Livedoor News reported the grower's remark that he feels anger and the cut marks at the site. [ 3 , 4 ]