On August 6, 2025, the Kushiro Police Station in Hokkaido rearrested Rogov Nikolai, a 51-year-old Russian national residing in Kushiro City, on suspicion of trespassing and attempted theft.
Rogov Nikolai is suspected of breaking into an old company-owned dormitory in Otanoshike, Kushiro City, around 9:15 AM on January 28, 2025, with the intent to steal faucets from bathrooms and kitchens.
A factory employee noticed that a board installed to prevent entry at the dormitory’s shared entrance had been removed. Upon checking, they encountered a foreign-looking man inside one of the bathroom areas.
The man fled the scene but left behind a backpack and a pile of dozens of faucets in a closet.
Inside the backpack was a partially consumed plastic bottle drink, and DNA analysis matched it to Rogov Nikolai, leading to his arrest.
While Rogov Nikolai admitted to trespassing, he partially denied the theft allegations, stating, “I didn’t intend to steal. I planned to ask for permission later for what I wanted.”
Rogov Nikolai has lived in Japan for about 20 years, including five years in Kushiro City. He was previously arrested twice in May and July of the same year for stealing a total of three cars.
During his first arrest, he claimed, “I was told I could take them for free.”
Police believe the thefts were for resale purposes. They are investigating further possible crimes, as several faucet theft incidents have been reported in Kushiro City.
