A U.S. Navy serviceman stationed in Japan has reportedly been arrested by local authorities for allegedly stealing a wallet. The alleged theft occurred in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, sometime around 2 a.m. The navy serviceman entered a taxi while a woman was already inside. The two argued over an undisclosed issue, after which the man allegedly stole a paper bag from the taxi.

Police reports claim that the bag contained a wallet, a smartphone, and various other items. The total value of the items was estimated at 105,000 yen, roughly $661 USD. The taxi driver witnessed the event in its entirety and contacted the police. The authorities arrived at the scene and arrested the man.

As of writing, the identity of the U.S. Navy serviceman is unknown. According to news outlet Ilkha, he has denied some of the allegations made against him. Police are continuing to investigate, while the U.S. Navy has not yet commented on the situation. Japan is home to a large number of U.S. military personnel. More than 50,000-60,000 personnel across the Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Army are stationed across Japan.

Japan, in particular, hosts a large number of U.S. naval bases that conduct operations across the Indo-Pacific region. Some of the major U.S. naval facilities are Yokosuka Naval Base, Sasebo Naval Base and Atsugi Naval Air Facility. The Navy servicemember accused of theft may have been based at Sasebo Naval Base.

A similar incident emerged earlier this year when U.S. Marines were suspected of theft in Tokyo and Hiroshima. Police reports alleged that two men, aged 20 and 26, stole 27,000 yen, or $175, from two restaurants in Kabukicho, a nightlife district in the Shinjuku area.

According to the Mainichi newspaper, the incident occurred in December 2025, between 7 a.m and 8 a.m. While the initial report linked the theft in Kabukicho to the two marines, it later emerged that they might be linked to multiple thefts that occurred last year. Police reports allege that the two men may be linked to thefts totaling about $65,000.

A similar incident occurred when Kareem El was “body-slammed and detained by U.S. military police” in Okinawa, Japan. The man was a former U.S. Marine Corps captain, which enraged the internet over the incident. U.S. Forces Japan later addressed the issue, acknowledging that a “mistake” was made.

USFJ spokesman Col. John Severns spoke about the matter in a conversation with Stars and Stripes. “While the investigation is still ongoing, it is clear that the detention of Mr. El was a mistake on the part of the patrol, who approached him solely because they believed he was a U.S. servicemember,” Severns revealed.