FUKUOKA -- A 48-year-old woman in Fukuoka Prefecture was arrested March 27 for allegedly stealing some 160 items including sugar placed besides the self-service coffee machine at a convenience store.

Fukuoka Prefectural Police's Ogori Police Station arrested the unemployed resident of the prefectural town of Tachiarai on suspicion of theft. She has reportedly denied the allegations, telling police, "I took them because they were free."

The suspect is accused of stealing approximately 160 items, including sugar stick packs, gum syrup and milk, from the store in the town at around 11:25 a.m. on March 12. The items, worth a total of 395 yen (about $2.60), were placed near the coffee machine for customers who purchase drinks.

According to the police station, after entering the store, the woman did not purchase any products such as coffee and instead placed creamer packets and other items into her backpack before leaving. The store staff noticed the large quantity of items missing immediately afterward, prompting the store manager to call the police, saying, "Sticks of sugar and other provided items have been stolen." The woman was reportedly identified through security camera footage and other information.

(Japanese original by Keisuke Muneoka, Kyushu News Department)