Woman overpowers thief with tea and sympathy

Tue Jul 8, 2008 10:35am EDT

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articl...818516620080708

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese woman and her six-month-old baby escaped unhurt from a knife-wielding thief this week after the mother calmed him down with a cup of tea and a chat.

The 30-year-old Tokyo woman was walking along a corridor in her apartment building with her daughter Monday when a man brandishing a knife demanded money, the Asahi newspaper said.

When the housewife told him she had none, the man barged into her apartment. Hoping to calm him, the woman made the thief a cup of tea, whereupon he put his knife away and began a 20-minute monologue about his life.

The woman then gave the man 10,000 yen ($93.34) and ran outside to call the police from a pay phone, the report said.

Police rushed to the scene, but the thief had fled and is still being sought.

(Reporting by Mari Saito)

bushido etiquette?

i wonder how long its gona take to find him. the woman now knows his life story LOL. what a stupid thief.

A more awkward scenario I cannot imagine.

May be just he was lonely and wanted some conversation.

Thief: ......
JPN Woman: Oh my! you scared me
Thief:......
JPN Woman: would you like tea or coffee?
Thief: ....
JPN Woman: or me instead?
Thief:
JPN Woman: tell me about yourself? why did you started this business
Thief: ....
JPN Woman: what's matter don't you like my tea?
Thief: [drinks tea and relaxes]
Thief: [start smoking]
JPN Woman: here is your ashtray
Thief: ......
JPN Woman: .....
Thief:....... nice tea
JPN Woman: I'm glad you liked it, would like some more tea?
Thief: ..... Hi Arigatto
JPN Woman: [goes to kitchen and pretending making tea and calling 911 from her mobile]
Thief: Are you done yet?
JPN Woman: Just a moment
Thief: Nice & take your time, [watching TV]
JPN Woman: Sure... heheheheh [ ]

wow, nice strategy. I think it's worth trying. btw i think the thief has some personal matters in his life. And perhaps he is lonely, so when they woman offered him the tea and chat time, he is so delighted.

Seriously, it could be the plot for a blockbuster summer romantic comedy film.




Like those 2 male and female burglars who meet each other for the first time when they're picking each other's pockets at a subway station........

shes lucky that she wasnt violated...

The guy probably didn't even have intentions of killing in the first place.

That's probably why he was calmed down so easily.

I don't think just because someone is a criminal, that also makes them sexual deviant. If his intention was sexually harassing her in any way, we'd have a completely different news report on our hands.

who knows guess in the states things are different

Hahaha, awkward situation, indeed. That makes me think if I was in a situation like that, I could try the tea method. Lol.

why not put poison in the tea?

HAHAHA That is just SICK and WICKED!!!! "Let's talk about getting seriously TEA BAGGED and not knowing about it"..

Taking advantage of a poor innocent criminal Thug who had some personal issues..."What? Is this World comming too??" She has NO HONOR!!!

Very Sneaky Those Japanese Girls..Always using there heads..Very sexy..

*pulls out knife*
don't move!! give me your time and affection!

If you can't beat them up, give them tea

If a thief were to come into my house, I'd hide.

Or find a gun.

LOL , that's very intresting how a woman can calm down a crazy mofo down with a cup of tea, and starting up a conversation with him. she's most of had some sex appeal 2

If some thief went into my house, I would say:

"Sorry, I'm so poor and have nothing valuable for you to steal."

This is a new one.