Two Vietnamese Technical Trainees Referred to Prosecutors Again Over Break-Ins at About 30 Vacant Homes in Hiroshima's Miyoshi
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.
Hiroshima Prefectural Police's Miyoshi Station announced by August 14, 2026 that it had referred two Vietnamese technical trainees, 30 and 34, to prosecutors again on suspicion of trespassing and theft over break-ins at roughly 30 vacant homes and other buildings in the Miwa area of Miyoshi City. According to a Chugoku Shimbun Digital report, the case began when the two were arrested on the spot in June that year on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (unlawful overstay); the subsequent investigation uncovered a pattern of repeated break-ins at vacant properties.
The pair are believed to have used tools to break into vacant homes and storehouses, stealing Buddhist altar fixtures and other items, and are reported to have made statements suggesting the goods were intended for resale. With this latest referral, Miyoshi Station's investigation into the case has concluded.
Current status: The two have already been indicted on charges of trespassing and theft; how prosecutors will handle the newly referred allegations remains unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Vacant-home burglaries involving Vietnamese technical trainees have been reported in other regions as well, including a case in Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture (related coverage) and cases in Minobu and Hayakawa, Yamanashi Prefecture (related coverage).
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.