Three Vietnamese Former Technical Interns Caught Over About 80 Vacant-House Thefts Worth 5.12 Million Yen in Fukuoka; Goods Sold via Social Media
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.
Fukuoka Prefectural Police announced by early October 2026 that it had arrested three Vietnamese men in their 30s, all of no fixed address and unemployed, for repeatedly breaking into vacant houses in Yanagawa and Miyama, Fukuoka Prefecture, and stealing jewelry and cash. The force closed its investigation by referring nine of the cases, involving losses of about 1,599,690 yen, to prosecutors. According to TNC Television Nishinippon, the three are believed to be responsible for roughly 80 incidents between January and March 2026, with total losses of about 5,126,390 yen.
The three reportedly searched at night for houses with no lights on, checked whether the properties were vacant by looking at the state of the vegetation and upkeep, and then broke in. They are believed to have converted stolen jewelry and other goods into cash by soliciting buyers through social media. All three had come to Japan as technical intern trainees, met at a factory in Yanagawa, and are believed to have repeatedly committed the thefts, using the proceeds for living expenses and remittances to Vietnam.
Current status: The three men's residence status, the outlook for charges beyond the nine referred cases, and whether the buyers of the stolen goods have been identified remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
In another wide-area case targeting vacant homes, Aichi police arrested two Vietnamese men in October 2026 over burglaries spanning eight prefectures. Related article
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.