Kevin Wayne Williams wrote:
> declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > I'm not on strike against Weinerschnitzel, just waiting for the
> > replacement credit card to arrive after my wallet got stolen last
week.
>
> Now see, there is another story about "Life In Japan" that has
nothing
> to do with racist misspellings. Do tell. What happened to your
wallet?

I was about to drive to the airport in the new minivan when I found
that one of the guests for the radio station had parked in front of it,
so I couldn't get out of the parking lot. Went back inside and got the
keys of the older van and drove off, pulling in to buy gas just before
getting on the expressway. Filled the tank, then embarrassingly
couldn't find my wallet.

Called the office and asked the staff to find and bring it, but they
couldn't find it either. Customers waiting at the airport so another
staff member came in his car, we switched, and he drove off to the
airport while I drove sans license back to the office. Kind of lucky
when I think about it, because if I'd been able to drive the new
minivan (which already had a full tank), I wouldn't have discovered
that the wallet was missing until I tried to get off the expressway at
the other end.

Retraced my steps checking the offices, even went to the supermarket to
ask if they had found it but nothing. Credit cards, all my cashcards,
driver's license, gaigin card, receipts worth about 40000, cash about
15000 - the whole lot gone with the wallet. Called the bank and had a
stop put on the credit cards. Eventually walked down to the police
station to fill in the todoke etc and walked home praying that someone
would find it.

Next day searched the offices, bar, parking lot, etc again. Nothing.
Took a roll of 100 yen coins out of the safe and went to buy lunch.
Asked again at the supermarket. Nothing. Made inquiries about fastest
way to get new license etc. Then I got a call from the supermarket
manager, the cleaning staff had found it in the men's toilets (which I
never use, since my office is only 200 meters away). Went back to the
supermarket and there it is. Everything in it except the cash (coins
still inside, just the notes missing).

Went down to the police station to un-todoke the todoke so to speak.
Asked if the police wanted to check for fingerprints etc. Went up to
the detective's office and they used one of those new portable kits to
dust the wallet and the cards etc using aluminium powder etc. They
found a few prints but mostly partial ones. The fingerprint gathering
process was actually pretty interesting to watch. The cop had a very
nice camera by the way, I wanted to ask if he was allowed to take it
home etc but didn't. I guess it will get a good workout at the police
hanami gigs next week.

The cop said it is a pity that in this day and age the person who found
my wallet would steal the 15000 from it instead of handing it in. I
would have given at least 20000 for the wallet back, just because of
the value of the receipts and the inconvenience with the driver's
license etc. Was also thankful that I had deposited about 30000 into
the ATM at the supermarket just before I went shopping. I think it was
dropped or stolen while I was putting the groceries into the shopping
bags.

Anyway so I called the bank and arranged a new credit card. University
of Wienerschnitzel will have to wait until then, and I'll suffer google
in the meantime. Not the most scintillating and sexy story of crime is
it? Not quite as windswept and exotic as the Dutch Antilles, but thats
"Life in Japan".