Three U.S. Soldiers Stationed in Japan Arrested for Alleged Theft, Total Value May Exceed 10 Million Yen

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 16 - Japanese media reported on the 15th that three U.S. soldiers stationed in Japan were arrested on suspicion of theft. Japanese police suspect that two of the soldiers involved may also be linked to other theft cases, with the total amount involved possibly exceeding 10 million yen (approximately 65,000 USD).

According to reports from Kyodo News and other media, two U.S. soldiers stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture are suspected of breaking into two restaurants in Tokyo on December 24 last year and stealing a total of 27,000 yen (177 USD) from the cash registers. The case was handed over to prosecutors on the 13th of this month.

Both suspects are in their 20s and committed the crimes during their leave. One claimed that the purpose of the theft was to pay for medical treatment for his family, while the other stated it was to cover living expenses.

Japanese police also suspect that they are connected to more than a dozen theft cases that occurred in various locations last year, including a theft of over 10 million yen at another restaurant in Tokyo on December 24.

In addition, a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa was arrested on the 15th. The 22-year-old soldier is suspected of stealing a customer's bag at a bar in Okinawa in the early hours of that day, which contained valuables including a necklace, totaling approximately 780,000 yen (5,108 USD). The soldier vehemently denied the theft, claiming he "mistakenly took" someone else's bag. (Hui Xiaoshuang)