Two Vietnamese Men Arrested Over Breaking Into Tokyo Home and Stealing a Phone After Drinking Talk; Third Suspect Already Deported
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's Criminal Investigation Division 3 announced by October 21, 2026 that it had arrested two Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of trespassing and theft: Pham Van Truong, 31, unemployed and of no fixed address, and Tran Xuan Nghia, 26, of unknown occupation, residing in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. According to the Sankei Shimbun, the two are accused of entering a house in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, through a second-floor window on the evening of April 23, 2026, and stealing a smartphone worth about 10,000 yen from the entryway. Both have reportedly admitted the allegations.
Three people are believed to have taken part, fleeing after running into the male resident at the entrance as he returned from shopping. The third man has already been deported. The two told police that the idea arose while the three were drinking and the conversation turned to Vietnamese groups repeatedly committing thefts in Japan, and that they acted on a casual impulse. The stolen smartphone was locked and unusable, so they reportedly smashed it on the ground.
Current status: Whether the pair committed other 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.