Suspected robber had hungry pets

OSAKA, Japan, June 21 (UPI) -- A man accused of robbing two convenience stores in Japan while wearing an animal mask was desperate for money to feed his pets, police say.

Police allege Takaharu Kawata, 28, admitted robbing a pair of stores in Osaka to get money to buy food for the hungry animals, The Asahi Shimbun said Saturday.

The unemployed man was arrested on a second charge of robbery June 9 and is currently on trial for robbery charges, police say.

The Shimbun said the alleged animal mask thief owns two dogs, two snakes, five cats, five turtles and an aquarium of tropical fish.