SAITAMA (Kyodo) A man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to steal gasoline after he unwittingly filled his car's tank with water, stranding the vehicle shortly afterward, police said.
Fujio Hirakawa, 56, allegedly stole water from an 18-liter tank in a gardener's workshop in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, thinking it was gasoline.
But the 56-year-old gardener, who had been hit by a gasoline thief two weeks previously, deliberately refilled it with water instead.
On Wednesday morning, the gardener found the tank empty and called police after finding the suspect's car about 200 meters away.
Hirakawa admitted to the allegations, and the theft two weeks ago, saying he had no money, police said. He was charged with theft and trespassing.