Two Vietnamese Men Arrested for Burglary of Rings in Gifu; Police Suspect Group Hit Homes Across Eight Prefectures
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.
Aichi Prefectural Police's Ichinomiya Station announced on October 15, 2026 that it had arrested two Vietnamese nationals, Le Van Thai, 25, and Duong Khanh Thuy, 27, on suspicion of theft and other offenses. According to Chukyo TV News, the two are suspected of conspiring with accomplices in June 2026 to break into the home of a 73-year-old man in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture and steal two rings worth about 30,000 yen in total.
Another Vietnamese man, who had already been arrested and indicted in a separate burglary case, was additionally referred to prosecutors over involvement in this case. Based on security camera footage and other evidence, police believe a Vietnamese group including these three repeatedly committed burglaries across eight prefectures including Aichi. Whether the two admit the allegations has not been disclosed.
Current status: The number of incidents and total losses across the eight prefectures, the size of the group and the roles of its members, and the two men's residence status remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
In another wide-area burglary case involving Vietnamese men, Aichi police arrested two suspects in August 2026 over break-ins targeting vacant homes across 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.