Vietnamese Woman, 21, Arrested for Breaking Into Home and Stealing Cash and Rings; Also Linked to Vacant-House Burglary
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.
Niigata Prefectural Police's Itoigawa Station announced by August 3, 2026 that it had arrested a 21-year-old Vietnamese factory worker living in Itoigawa on suspicion of breaking and entering and theft. She is accused of breaking into a private residence on July 21 of that year and stealing approximately 420,500 yen in cash along with nine items, including rings, valued at a combined 225,300 yen.
Police investigations also confirmed that she had broken into a vacant house in the city between June 13 and November 13 of the previous year. The suspect has reportedly admitted to the allegations, saying, "It's true that I entered the house and stole cash and rings."
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution, and the full scope of any additional offenses, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported cases of home and vacant-house burglary involving Vietnamese nationals include one in Kanagawa Prefecture in which roughly 150 additional offenses were suspected (related coverage), and a theft ring believed responsible for 111 incidents across five Kanto prefectures (related coverage). Similar methods have led to a string of cases across the country.