Two Chilean Nationals Arrested Over ¥200 Million Watch Heist at Nakano Broadway, Days After Entering Japan
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.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced on August 27, 2026 that it had arrested two Chilean nationals, Piña Guzmán Jeremy Paolo, 23, and Mansano Quesada Boris Alexis, 33, on suspicion of theft. According to NHK, the Nikkei and other outlets, the two are accused of smashing a display case with a hammer and stealing luxury watches from a shop inside the Nakano Broadway shopping complex in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, on August 25 that year. The damage is estimated at roughly 200 million yen.
The pair had entered Japan only days earlier, on August 21, on a flight from Sydney to Haneda, holding 90-day short-term visitor status. They were confirmed to have visited the same shop two days before the theft, apparently to scout the location. After the theft, they fled on electric kick scooters and were later found hiding at a shared housing facility in Osaka, where they were arrested on the night of August 27; one of the stolen watches was found in their possession at the time.
Current status: A follow-up NHK report on August 28 said one of the suspects told investigators he had intended to "turn the watches into cash and take it back to his home country." Most of the stolen watches have not been recovered, and tracing the resale route is expected to be a focus of the ongoing investigation. Whether the case will be referred for prosecution remains 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.