Two Vietnamese Nationals Re-Arrested Over Break-In Theft of Commemorative Coins, Watches in Fukushima's Minami-Aizu
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.
Fukushima Prefectural Police's Minami-Aizu Station announced that at around 10:10 a.m. on August 13, 2026 it re-arrested two Vietnamese nationals, both of no fixed address and unemployed, ages 32 and 23, on suspicion of trespassing and theft. According to the Fukushima Minyu Shimbun and other outlets, the two are accused of breaking into a residence managed by a man in his 50s in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, between roughly 12:30 p.m. on July 21 and 6:20 p.m. on July 25, 2026, and stealing seven commemorative coins (worth a total of about 112,500 yen) and six items including watches (worth about 20,000 yen in total).
The two had already been arrested on July 24 on suspicion of violating the anti-picking-tool law after two crowbars were found hidden in the trunk of a car parked in Shimogo Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Today's arrest followed an investigation into additional offenses linked to that earlier case.
Current status: Whether the suspects have admitted to the allegations, the full extent of any additional offenses, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution 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.