Today I witnessed a near-miss case of pick-pocketing at the supermarket of Isetan. I said near-miss as the pickpocket thief was face-to-face with me and he stopped short when he noticed that I noticed him !! In the crowded supermarket where there was a Japan food fair on-going, the thief who looked suspicious pretended to squeeze his way through the crowd of people. I noticed him very obviously as he passed by me many times. Just when he was about to put his hand into the bag of a Japanese lady, I saw his hand and he saw me looking at him! He immediately withdrew his hand from the handbag, quickly walked away and pretended to look at some discount pool pumps nearby. I quickly alerted the Japanese woman about the thief and she thanked me gratefully. I should have alerted the security guards nearby too. I was too shocked to have reacted accordingly.
It is sad that it is so unsafe these days. Have to warn my kids when we visit in May…they have no idea!!