Vietnamese Man, 31, Re-Arrested Over Break-Ins at Two Vacant Homes in Minobu, Yamanashi Amid String of Vacant-House Burglaries; Earlier Hayakawa Case Ended Without Indictment
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.
Yamanashi Prefectural Police announced by August 2026 that it had re-arrested a 31-year-old Vietnamese national living in Kofu City on suspicion of breaking and entering and theft. According to a report by UTY Yamanashi Broadcasting, he is accused of breaking into two vacant houses in Minobu Town between January and February of that year and stealing approximately 50,000 yen in cash along with rings and foreign currency, together valued at about 90,000 yen. He has reportedly remained silent regarding the allegations.
The same man had previously been arrested and referred to prosecutors in April of that year over an alleged break-in at a vacant house in Hayakawa Town in which about 10,000 yen in cash was stolen, but the Kofu District Public Prosecutors Office decided on July 13 not to indict him in that case, stating the decision was made "in light of the content of the relevant evidence." He has, however, been separately indicted on charges including violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
Within Yamanashi Prefecture, at least 90 cases of vacant houses being ransacked have been confirmed, concentrated mainly in mountainous areas of Kofu, Kai, Minobu, and Hayakawa. Citing similarities in the methods used, prefectural police have set up a joint investigation task force and are pursuing the involvement of the man and others.
Current status: Whether the man admits to the re-arrest allegations, and whether he is connected to the more than 90 total reported cases, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.