The very cute thief from Nara

In the old times stealing was punished in Japan with extreme severity, with penalties varying from flagellation and tattooing to amputation of nose or ears or to sentences to prostitution for women. Also, a repetitive offender could have been sentenced to death by decapitation, as it was the case with the famous Nezumi Kozo.

Today Japan has a very low criminality rate and crimes like shoplifting are almost unheard of... But, as you can see from my photo, I witnessed in Nara some shoplifters getting away... (^_^) Although the store clerks are chase them away from time to time, the deer aren't really scared, soon returning for another "hit". I'm sure they know that everybody loves them...