Overview
- Fukushima Prefectural Police disclosed on Dec. 11 that investigators searched two contractors despite the complainant having withdrawn a theft report.
- The man in his 70s called Iwaki Central Police Station on Dec. 5 to say his bag had been left elsewhere, but the officer who took the call did not notify superiors or case investigators.
- Investigators applied for a court warrant on Dec. 8 and executed searches on Dec. 9, seizing one mobile phone before learning the complaint had been withdrawn.
- Police later determined the men had visited for work and had not entered the home, returned the seized phone, and issued apologies on Dec. 9 and 10.
- The prefectural police say they are investigating the internal reporting failure and pledged measures to prevent a repeat.