Two Ringleaders Re-Arrested as 11-Member Vietnamese Theft Ring Tied to 111 Burglaries, ¥47.8 Million in Damage Across 5 Kanto Prefectures
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Saitama Prefectural Police announced by July 29, 2026, that it had re-arrested Pham Hong Bich (26) and Nguyen Ngoc Viet (27), both Vietnamese nationals, on suspicion of possessing stolen property. They are accused of hiding approximately ¥7.6 million in cash—obtained by converting stolen cash and jewelry—at their apartment.
The theft ring to which the two belong is made up of 11 members and is believed to have repeatedly committed thefts across five Kanto prefectures, including Saitama and Chiba, totaling 111 incidents and approximately ¥47.8 million in damage. Records showing Pham gave instructions to other members via social media were confirmed, leading police to identify him as a ringleader of the group.
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution and the status of the broader crackdown on the group remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other wide-area organized theft cases involving Vietnamese nationals have included an Aichi Prefecture case in which a group allegedly stole large numbers of smartphones through impersonation (related coverage), and a case involving three Thai nationals accused of committing 167 burglaries of vacant homes across 11 prefectures (related coverage). Organized crimes with systems for giving instructions and paying rewards via social media are being uncovered in various regions.