SAEDNEWS: Lonely women in Japan commit minor thefts in order to escape loneliness and obtain shelter by getting arrested and sent to prison.
According to Saed News, citing Simorgh, elderly and senior women in Japan are committing crimes to escape loneliness and poverty in order to be placed in prison, where they can receive shelter and care.
Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, with at least 27% of its population aged 65 or older.
Survey results show that at least one-fifth of female prisoners in the country are elderly citizens, and at least 9 out of 10 of them commit minor offenses such as shoplifting.
Between 1980 and 2015, the number of elderly people living alone in Japan increased more than sixfold, reaching six million people.
A 2017 study conducted in Tokyo revealed that more than 50% of elderly individuals arrested for shoplifting live alone, and 40% of them have no family or acquaintances.
Decades ago, it was common in Japanese families to care for elderly members, but a lack of resources has made this increasingly difficult. As a result, the elderly population has become more isolated, and women in particular are turning to crime in the hope of securing shelter.
According to The Independent, Yumi Murataka, a prison official near Hiroshima, said that in some cases these women actually do have homes and families, but they do not live in places where they feel comfortable or at peace.
