Chilean "Expeditionary Theft Ring" Arrested in Japan After Stealing Luxury Watches Worth 1.7 Billion Won

Targeting Places with Lax Security

"Three to Four Thefts a Day in High-End Residential Areas"

Celebrity Athletes' Homes Also Targeted in Europe and the US

A Chilean theft ring that stole luxury watches worth 20 million yen (approximately 170 million won) in Tokyo, Japan, and fled the scene, has been apprehended by the police, raising concerns about so-called "expeditionary theft."

According to Japanese private broadcaster TBS on the 29th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested two Chilean nationals on charges of stealing four high-end watches from a watch shop located inside the Nakano Broadway shopping facility in Nakano Ward on the 25th of last month.

The suspects are also accused of breaking into a vacant house in a high-end residential area of Ota Ward, Tokyo, three days before the previous incident, stealing cash and watches valued at 8 million yen (approximately 69 million won).

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Investigations have revealed that the suspects entered Japan on short-term stay visas and chose their targets spontaneously rather than in advance, targeting luxury homes or shops that appeared to have lax security.

In police questioning, the suspects stated, "We traveled throughout Europe, stealing from high-end residential areas and elsewhere about three to four times a day, and crossed borders to avoid arrest."

Law enforcement authorities consider the suspects part of a "South American expeditionary theft ring"—an international criminal organization that enters the country on tourist visas or similar, quickly converts stolen goods into cash or remits them back to their home country, and departs swiftly to evade investigation.

Victims have already been reported in Europe and the United States, where burglars have targeted the homes of famous athletes and other high-profile residences, and now similar crimes are becoming more prevalent in Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police believes that, in addition to the two suspects, there may be accomplices who assisted by disposing of stolen goods or securing airline tickets, and the investigation is expanding to identify them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.