名古屋古蹟區竹筍被盜

Recently Asahi News reported the following:

国の特別史跡「名古屋城跡」（名古屋市中区）の竹林からタケノコ計５３本を盗んだとして、いずれも同市在住の５６～７４歳の男性６人が愛知県警から厳重注意されていたことがわかった。城跡は知る人ぞ知るタケノコの「宝庫」だったらしく、通りかかった人の通報を受けた警察官が駆けつけたとき、互いに面識のない６人が一心にタケノコを掘っていたという。

　捜査関係者によると、タケノコの盗掘があったのは同市中区三の丸３丁目の県知事公舎東の竹林。４月８日午前９時ごろ、作業着姿などでめいめいスコップを使って掘り起こしていたところを中署員が確認した。事情を聴かれ、「知り合いからタケノコが採れると聞いた」と答えた人もいたという。 タケノコの盗掘自体は窃盗罪にあたるが、被害が小さく、それぞれ「自分で食べるためだった。反省しています」などと話したことから、同署は６人を厳重注意のうえ、書類送検もしない「微罪処分」として処理した。 名古屋城跡の竹林は国の所有で、同市北土木事務所が名城公園の一部として管理する三の丸の土塁と堀に広がっている。今回の被害を受けて、同事務所は５月初め、竹に「ここは都市公園です」「タケノコ採取も禁止です」とする文書を掲示し、警告した。

It was understood that a total of 53 bamboo shoots were stolen from the bamboo forest of the special historic site the "Nagoya Ruins of Castle" (in middle Nagoya City) in the country, and warning was given by the Aichi Prefecture police to six men of 56 to 74 years old living in the same city. The policemen after receiving a report from a person who happened to walk pass the ruins of a castle and knew the "Treasure house" of the bamboo shoot arrived at the scene to see six people who did not know each other were ardently digging up the bamboo shoots.

According people related to the investigation, the digging and stealing of the bamboo shoots took place in the bamboo forest at the east of the Prefecture governor official residence. An insider official confirmed that it was around 9.00 am on April 8th that the digging up was done by people in working clothes and each using shovel. When asked about the circumstances, there was a person who answered, "It was heard from my acquaintance that bamboo shoots could be gathered". The damage done was small, and of of each of them although had committed theft by digging and stealing the bamboo shoots, had later said that ｢our purpose is to eat for myself. I feel sorry for that ｣, the police after having seriously warned these six people, processed this as "a case of minor offense" and sent no police report. The bamboo forest in Nagoya Ruins of Castle was owned by the country, the part at Meijo Park was managed by the same city northern engineering works office that covered an area extending to the agger and the moat. As damage had been suffered this time, at the beginning of May this office posted up warning documents onto the bamboo trees saying that "Here is an urban park" and "Bamboo shoot collection is prohibited".

I believe that these 6 people are law abiding citizens, and it is out of ignorance that they had committed the offence.