2 US Marines suspected of theft at Tokyo's Kabukicho nightlife district

Mainichi
February 16, 2026
Wire photo

TOKYO - Two U.S. Marines based in western Japan are suspected of breaking into restaurants in Tokyo's Kabukicho nightlife district and stealing cash, a case that was recently referred to prosecutors, according to police.

The two men -- both in their 20s and assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni -- may have committed around a dozen thefts in multiple locations since around last fall, with total losses possibly topping 10 million yen ($65,000), an investigative source said.

In the case referred to prosecutors on Friday, the two allegedly stole a total of 27,000 yen from cash registers at two restaurants on the morning of Dec. 24, according to Tokyo police.

One of them was quoted as saying he did it to pay for his family's medical treatment, while the other said he did it to help cover living expenses.

Both were on leave when the thefts took place, and they are likely to have broken key boxes near entrances with power tools to get the keys.

The police also suspect their involvement in a same-day theft of more than 10 million yen at another Kabukicho restaurant.

In a separate case, a U.S. Marine was arrested Sunday in Okinawa Prefecture for allegedly stealing a backpack containing a necklace and other items worth about 780,000 yen, local police said.

Pharell Rodriguez, a 22-year-old corporal assigned to Camp Foster, has denied the allegation, calling it a mistake.