5,000 Pears Stolen: Is 'Feeling Sorry' Enough for a Second Incident?

A pear farmer in Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has decided to close their business after having a large quantity of pears stolen just before harvest for two consecutive years.

The responsibility for the crime naturally lies with the thief. However, after having approximately 6,000 pears stolen last year, which led to bankruptcy and the loss of employees, the management's responsibility cannot be ignored when they relied only on fences and motion sensors for protection the following year, only to have another 5,000 pears stolen. While the first time may have been bad luck, the second time was a known risk, and it cannot be dismissed with just 'feeling sorry' for them.

Admittedly, there are limits to what an individual can do to protect a large farm. It is necessary for the police, agricultural cooperatives, and neighboring farmers to work together to create systems that prevent theft and ensure that thieves cannot get away with it, such as by jointly installing surveillance cameras, conducting intensive patrols during the harvest season, and monitoring for suspicious large-scale distribution.