EXCLUSIVE: 2 U.S. Marines Referred to Prosecutors in Tokyo Theft Case

Tokyo, Feb. 13 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department sent papers on two U.S. Marines to public prosecutors on Friday, alleging that they broke into restaurants in the Japanese capital and stole cash, Jiji Press has learned. The Marines, aged 20 and 26 and both stationed at Iwakuni Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, have admitted to the allegations, saying that they carried out the crimes to pay family medical expenses. According to investigative sources, the two men are believed to have committed more than 10 thefts targeting restaurants nationwide, causing over 10 million yen in total damage. The pair, who were reportedly visiting Tokyo on vacation, are suspected of breaking into two restaurants in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku Ward between 7 and 8 a.m. on Dec. 24 last year, stealing a total of about 27,000 yen in cash. They allegedly used an electric tool to open a key box outside a restaurant and entered using the key stored inside. The theft was reported to the police by restaurant staff who noticed the damage. On the same day, more than 10 million yen was stolen from another restaurant in Shinjuku Ward. The MPD is investigating whether the Marines were involved in that case as well. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]