SAITAMA (TR) — Police have dismantled a Vietnamese burglary ring believed to be responsible for a massive string of break-ins totaling more than 100 million yen in damages across the Kanto region, reports TV Asahi (Amy 23).
Do Van Toi, a Vietnamese national and the alleged ringleader, is accused of breaking into 72 homes across Saitama, Gunma and Tochigi prefectures leading up to last year. Police say he personally made off with roughly 23 million yen in cash and precious metals.
According to investigators, the theft ring systematically targeted unoccupied residences and vacant houses. Utilizing designated lookouts, the gang would shatter window glass to gain forced entry before ransacking the properties.
Upon his arrest, Toi admitted to the allegations. “I repeatedly committed burglaries to earn living expenses,” he told police.
Authorities have linked the Vietnamese group to a total of 170 separate burglaries, with total damages soaring to approximately 106.7 million yen.
