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TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Beset by economic worries and loneliness, elderly Japanese are turning to petty crime in increasing numbers, the nation's Justice Ministry reports.

In 2007, 48,605 persons age 65 and older were arrested in crimes other than traffic violations, more than double the number five years earlier, according to a ministry report.

Thefts such as shoplifting and pick-pocketing were the main offenses, the ministry report said.

"The main reasons they shoplift are poverty and loneliness," said Kazuo Kawakami, a former federal prosecutor. "The traditional Japanese family is gone, and now our elderly live alone."

Morio Mochizuki, who heads SPUJ, one of Japan's largest security firms, said the stories of shoplifting suspects at the thousands of stores his company oversees across Japan bear that out.

And the problem becomes more acute during New Year holidays, traditionally a time for family gatherings in Japan, Mochizuki said.

Economics also plays a role. Japan's economy went into recession this year, the government says. And the country's national pension system has been bogged down with mismanagement and corruption, leaving many pensioners with fears their lifetime savings will be lost.

"I feel sorry for them. When I talk to them, they don't have enough money for food," Takayuki Fujisawa, an employee of SPUJ, said of the elderly he's caught shoplifting.

SPUJ recently allowed CNN to follow its security team at one Tokyo grocery store. In just moments, they nabbed a 69-year-old woman, allegedly trying to steal food worth about $10.

TOKYO, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average slipped 1.2 percent on Thursday, losing some gains made the previous day on a stronger yen and as uncertainty over quick approval for U.S. auto rescue plans pressured recent gainers such as Advantest (nyse: ATE - news - people ).

But some big stocks bucked the trend, with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group climbing after a report that it would raise $7.6 billion in capital, much more than earlier plans, while Japan Tobacco Inc jumped on a report that the tobacco tax would not be hiked.

"Japanese stocks had already priced in gains on Wall Street yesterday and investors are discouraged by the yen that has firmed since around the market open," said Yutaka Miura, a senior technical analyst at Shinko Securities.

"Investors also want see how the U.S. auto industry bailout pans out, with approval by the Senate looking a bit uncertain."

The benchmark Nikkei fell 99.42 points to 8,560.82, although it was still above its 25-day moving average. It gained over 3 percent the previous day to book its highest close since Nov. 12.

By Blaine Harden

Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, October 19, 2008; Page A01

TOKYO -- Kotaro Tamura, an investment banker turned Japanese lawmaker, has an immodest proposal for healing the sick global economy, making all Japanese richer and compelling the United States to be more deferential toward Japan.

"We are in a special position because we have huge money," Tamura said, referring to about $950 billion in government foreign reserves, $1.5 trillion in public pension funds and $15 trillion in personal financial assets, about $8 trillion of which is on deposit at shockingly low interest rates in Japanese banks.

"We should send the signal that we are ready to save the world with this money," he said in an interview.

Tamura leads a group of 65 lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who have proposed to Prime Minister Taro Aso that Japan treat the global financial meltdown "as a huge opportunity for us."

They are urging the government to inject some of its abundant cash into troubled U.S. and European banks, in return for equity, and to purchase distressed corporate assets at fire-sale prices.

"The economy of every major power has crashed, and Japan has the least tainted market in the world," Tamura said.

So far, Aso's government has said nothing about any such investments. Asked what the prime minister thinks of the idea, Aso's spokesman declined to comment.

In recent days the government has said only that it would assist developing countries by contributing money to a rescue effort organized by the International Monetary Fund.

The chronically risk-averse habits of Japanese savers, who keep most of their trillions in accounts that pay less than 0.5 percent interest a year, suggest that Tamura's plan to save the world and make Japan richer is unlikely to generate much popular support.

"We are a bank-centered nation that avoids risk, even good risk," said Akira Kojima, chairman of the Japan Center for Economic Research.

Kojima called the idea of investing some of Japan's cash in the midst of the financial crisis a good one, if done prudently. "It could be a catalyst for changing Japanese investment management strategy," he said.

At the same time, he said, it would be all but impossible to carry out, given the conservative bent of the government and the public. "The finance system is too rigid," he said.