Vietnamese Man, 33, Arrested for Breaking Into 90-Year-Old Woman's Home, Suspected of Up to 150 Other Break-Ins in Kanagawa
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Kanagawa Prefectural Police announced by June 29, 2026 that they had arrested a 33-year-old Vietnamese man on suspicion of breaking and entering. He is suspected of entering the home of a 90-year-old woman in Yokohama's Minami Ward in May of that year through an unlocked entrance.
According to the prefectural police investigation, the man is believed to have repeatedly used a torch to burn through window glass to defeat locks, and is suspected of involvement in about 150 residential break-ins and thefts (with total damage estimated at about 4.6 million yen) that occurred since the start of 2026 across six cities in the prefecture, including Yokohama, Kamakura, Fujisawa, Chigasaki, Isehara, and Yamato. Tools believed to have been used in the crimes, including a crowbar and a torch, were seized from his residence, along with about 80 pieces of jewelry — including rings and watches — believed to be stolen goods.
Current status: The man has reportedly told investigators things like "I don't know" under questioning. As of this writing, it is not yet known whether the roughly 150 additional suspected offenses will be fully clarified or whether he will be referred for prosecution or indicted. This article will be updated as further details become available.
Other reported cases of organized break-in thefts involving Vietnamese nationals include a shoplifting group whose ringleader in Vietnam has yet to be apprehended (related coverage) and a vacant-house burglary case in Kochi Prefecture (related coverage), with similar methods targeting homes and vacant houses occurring one after another across the country.