An unusual theft in Japan has left many people scratching their heads after a 76-year-old man was arrested for stealing a toilet — and installing it in his own home.
The incident took place in Toyota City, located in Aichi Prefecture. Back in November, warehouse owners discovered that a single toilet bowl and water tank had gone missing.
While thefts of valuable materials like copper wiring or metal fixtures are sometimes motivated by resale value, this case was different. Porcelain can’t be melted down for profit, and selling a single toilet from an undocumented source wouldn’t be easy. The missing item wasn’t part of a large haul — just one toilet.
After reporting the theft to police, security footage showed that a 76-year-old man had entered the warehouse through an unlocked shutter and taken the toilet.
Investigators later identified the suspect as Kumi Yotsumoto, a resident of Chiryu, another town in Aichi. When questioned, Yotsumoto admitted to stealing the toilet bowl.
His explanation was simple.
“I have been using the toilet that I stole,” he told authorities.
Yotsumoto reportedly has experience working as a daiku — a term often translated as “carpenter,” but more broadly used for contractors involved in residential construction. After taking the toilet, he transported it home, installed it himself, and had been using it for about three months before police arrived at his door.
Toyota City and Chiryu are roughly a 30-minute drive apart, making the situation even more puzzling.
Although Yotsumoto admitted to stealing the toilet bowl, he denied taking the water tank that also went missing. Investigators suspect the tank may have been installed along with the toilet and could check its serial number as part of the investigation.
As stolen property, the toilet will likely have to be returned — though it’s unclear whether the warehouse owners would want it back after it has been in use for months.
The case stands out not because of the value of the item, but because of the unusual motive behind it — a theft not for resale or scrap, but simply for personal use.
