A woman has been arrested in eastern Japan for allegedly ordering her 15-year-old daughter to shoplift, police said Sunday.
The girl, whose name was not released, was nabbed by police in eastern Ibaraki Prefecture for attempted theft. Her 40-year-old mother was booked for instigating the alleged crime, a prefectural police official said on condition of anonymity.
The girl had tried to snatch 11 items worth about 20,000 yen from a local supermarket, he said.
When questioned by police, the girl said her mother had told her to steal the items.
The mother has admitted to the allegations, citing financial hardship, according to the official.