Vietnamese Man Arrested for Stealing Bonsai

May 13, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - A 30-year-old Vietnamese man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 22 high-end bonsai trees worth a total of 670,000 yen from a garden center in Akishima, Tokyo.

The suspect was seen on the morning of May 12th at a police station and taken into custody on suspicion of theft.

The incident took place in December 2024, when the suspect is believed to have broken into the facility with accomplices and taken numerous bonsai trees at random. Among the stolen items were a Japanese white pine valued at about 45,000 yen and a black pine worth around 100,000 yen.

"When I arrived in the morning, everything was gone," said the garden center owner, who had carefully nurtured the collection. "The most mature trees—those two or three years older—were taken. Even the smaller ones are worth 10,000 to 15,000 yen and can double in value over time."

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police believe the trees may have been stolen for resale overseas and are continuing their investigation.

Source: FNN

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