In early November 2024, a kindergarten in Koga, Fukuoka Prefecture, became the center of an unusual mystery.
Over the nights of November 6 and 7, and again on November 11, a total of 22 children’s indoor slippers, known as uwabaki in Japan, disappeared from cubbyholes at the preschool.
The thefts left the school staff, parents, and children puzzled, with 13 students impacted by the missing footwear.
Concerns quickly escalated when some of the slippers were found scattered across the premises, including the school garden.
According to SoraNews24, teachers feared a disturbed individual might be targeting the kindergarten with malicious intent or a specific fetish.
To address the issue, local police were contacted and surveillance cameras were set up at the school’s entryway to investigate the bizarre theft.
The Culprit Revealed
Following the incident on the night of November 11, footage from surveillance cameras was reviewed the next day, revealing the culprit: a Siberian weasel.
The footage showed the weasel darting into the cubbyholes, grabbing slippers in its mouth, and fleeing the scene.
Japan Today reported that the weasel’s thefts happened over several days. On November 6, 2024, it made its first visit and took 15 slippers. The next day, it came back to steal another six. Finally, on November 11, it took a single slipper, and this time, the theft was caught on camera.
Deputy Police Chief Hiroaki Inada told the Associated Press upon learning the truth, stating, “It’s great it turned out not to be a human being.”
Yoshihide Saito, the director of the kindergarten, expressed, “We were so relieved.” Reports indicated that the children found the sight of the weasels in action in the video quite entertaining.
Why Would a Weasel Steal Shoes?
Environmental ecology professor Hiroshi Sasaki of Chikushi Jogakuen University explained that Siberian weasels are resourceful in adapting to colder months.
Sasaki suggested that the weasel likely took the lightweight uwabaki slippers from the preschool to use in its nest, possibly to keep its babies warm.
He noted that Siberian weasels are sensitive to the cold due to their short legs, long bodies, and thin fur, making additional insulation crucial as they prepare for winter.
Protective Measures and a Heartwarming End
To prevent further thefts, the kindergarten installed protective netting over the cubbyholes. Although the 22 missing slippers were never recovered, the children were delighted by the unexpected conclusion to the mystery.
While no criminal charges can be filed against the mischievous weasel, this quirky incident brought laughter and relief to a community concerned about their children’s safety.
Watch the videos here:
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it
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