Uniqlo and Japanese Retailers Face Surge in Organized Shoplifting by Foreign Visitors

In 2023, organized shoplifting by foreign visitors surged in Japan, impacting retailers like Uniqlo. With a rise in international theft operations, experts are calling for stronger employee training and security measures to combat the growing issue, particularly as labor shortages make stores more vulnerable.

Uniqlo and Other Retailers Targeted by Organized Shoplifting as Experts Push for Stronger Countermeasures

Due to a surge in theft by visitors to Japan in 2023, the number of foreigners apprehended for shoplifting increased for the first time in eight years. Experts are promoting countermeasures, including improving employee training. Uniqlo and other retailers have been affected by this.

In February, three Vietnamese women were apprehended in Osaka on suspicion of committing multiple thefts from Uniqlo stores. One of the women disclosed to the police that "we were able to avoid their attention and shoplift again and again" because the stores had a limited number of employees during the investigation, which was completed in July.

Between June 2023 and February 2024, the triumvirate entered Japan on short-term visas. They are accused of stealing approximately 3,300 items, valued at approximately 12.3 million yen ($82,800), from 37 retailers in the Kansai region surrounding Osaka and Tokyo.

According to Nikkei Asia, the products were purportedly stored in large purses or other bags and transported out of the stores. This process was repeated until the suitcases of a man traveling with them overflowed.

The group employed this method to return the stolen products to their residence, where they were transferred to another individual, who transported them back to Vietnam. For each approximately two-week vacation in Japan, the women each received 170,000 to 210,000 yen.

Investigators have determined that the women were directed to Japan by an individual who remains unidentified. Allegedly, plane tickets and accommodations were arranged, and instructions were provided to target stores in retail malls with open storefronts, avoid stores with few entrances and exits, and restrict their theft to less-bulky women's wear.

"Uniqlo is a popular luxury brand in Vietnam, and resale demand for it is the highest," one of the women said. The Vietnamese market is flooded with counterfeit goods. Products with Japanese tags are considered genuine and command high prices in local online flea markets.

The relaxation of COVID-19 border controls and the recovery in international travel have resulted in an increase in organized theft and other crimes committed by groups of foreigners in Japan.

H&M, Zara, and drugstores that sell cosmetics and medications are among the most frequently targeted global clothing brands, along with Uniqlo. Store surveillance has become increasingly lax due to labor scarcity, which shoplifters exploit.

Theft by Foreign Nationals in Japan Rises 20%, with Organized Shoplifting Rings Targeting Major Retailers

According to the National Police Agency, 1,326 foreign nationals were apprehended for theft in 2023, a 20% increase from the previous year and the first increase in eight years. It is noteworthy that 25.8% of those arrested were alleged to be operating as accomplices in group crimes. According to reports, accomplices comprise only 3.6% of Japanese individuals apprehended for theft.

Four Vietnamese men and women were charged with robbery in March for allegedly shoplifting at a Uniqlostore in Fukuoka prefecture, located on the southernmost main island of Kyushu in Japan. They were subsequently sentenced to suspended sentences. In this instance, they are also said to have adhered to the directives of another individual. The level of organization was allegedly disclosed by bags specifically designed to evade detection by security sensors.

"Compared with other countries, in Japan, stores are reluctant to take clear action when they see something suspicious, out of consideration for customers," said Akira Mitsuzane, a director of the National Shoplifting Prevention Organization, on the reasons for the increase.

For example, it is not uncommon for stores in other countries to request that customers with large bags check them in with the store before purchasing. However, Japanese retailers are hesitant to implement such measures.

Mitsuzane emphasizes the importance of enhancing stores' capacity to address theft. "Efforts like thorough training to raise awareness, commending employees who prevent crime, and introducing reward systems are essential," he said.

Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing spokesperson said, "We are considering effective employee training and hope to raise crime prevention awareness throughout our stores."