World · East Asia & Pacific · 6 hrs ago
¥1 Million in Suspects’ Cash Missing from Saitama Police Station
Saitama police found ¥1 million missing from a safe at Omiya Police Station in Saitama, Japan.
The money had been taken from suspects entering the station’s detention facility and kept there for safekeeping.
The shortage was found in April, when an officer compared the cash in the safe with its records.
Police say the money went missing sometime between July and April, but do not say who took it.
The safe was in an officers-only area, and senior officers and staff held its keys, but key use was not logged.
A police audit in July 2025 found no problem, but the station later failed to carry out required regular checks.
Police are questioning several officers and investigating possible theft; they are also considering disciplinary action for station officials and say they will work to prevent a repeat.
Saitama Prefectural Police said ¥1 million in cash held for suspects went missing from Omiya Police Station.
The money was kept in a safe for cash collected when suspects entered the station’s detention facility.
The shortage was discovered in April when officers compared the safe’s balance with financial records.
Police are investigating the possibility of theft and questioning several officers.
The force is also considering disciplinary action for station officials.
- Who
- Saitama Prefectural Police is investigating. The missing cash had been held for suspects.
- What
- ¥1 million in cash went missing from a police station safe.
- When
- The shortage was discovered in April 2026. Article 2 says the money went missing between July 2025 and April 2026.
- Where
- Omiya Police Station in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A regular prefectural police audit found no irregularities.
Officers found the safe held ¥1 million less than the amount recorded in financial records.
Saitama Prefectural Police announced the missing cash and said it was investigating the possibility of theft.
- Missing amount
- ¥1 million
- Police station
- Omiya Police Station
- Cash holders
- Suspects held in the station’s detention facility
- Discovery
- April 2026
- Audit
- July 2025; no irregularities found
3 sources
What people are saying
We deeply regret this. We will thoroughly investigate and work to prevent a recurrence.