'Welcome Money': proper J-burglary etiquette

[Taro Toporific]

From "Terrie's Take" Sunday's edition, March 23, 2003

...there are the reports of entire floors of apartments being systematically raided by thieves picking or drilling out door locks in less than 10 seconds. . .
In true Japanese fashion, there is a whole media fixation growing up around people's fears of burglary. For example, did you know that the proper etiquette for preventing burglars from trashing your apartment is to leave between JPY10,000 to JPY30,000 in "Welcome Money" (we made that term up) to encourage them to get on with the job and leave?
Apparently in this last few months there have been a rash of burglaries in Kanagawa into single womens apartments. When the intruder finds little or no cash, they mess the place up, including even peeing on the bed. Accordingly, young women's web sites are saying that JPY10,000 may not be enough to prevent such actions -- so JPY30,000 is considered to be the right amount... Only in Japan
- - From Terrie's Take(http://www.terrie.com) General Edition Sunday 23rd, March 2003 Issue No. 222; ebiz news from Japan. This edition of the webmail magazine will be posted on the website around March 29.