26-06-2025
Japan to mandate ID verification for sellers of cables, A/C outdoor units due to thefts
TOKYO -- Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) decided June 26 that it will require dealers buying items like electric cables and air conditioning outdoor units to verify the seller's identity regardless of the transaction amount in a bid to prevent the distribution of stolen metal goods.
The agency aims to amend parts of the Secondhand Goods Business Act's enforcement regulations, with implementation set for Oct. 1. Currently, secondhand goods dealers are required by law to verify the seller's identity and record transaction details for deals worth 10,000 yen (about $70) or higher. CDs, DVDs, books, video games and motorcycles already require ID verification and record-keeping regardless of the amount paid.
The new additions are: electric cables, air conditioning outdoor units and heat pumps for electric boilers, and drain grates.
According to the NPA, thefts in 2024 reached 11,486 cases for electric cables, a 4.1-fold increase from 2020. The rise in copper prices has led to frequent thefts from construction sites.
Air conditioning outdoor units, which contain copper and aluminum, saw 3,397 theft cases in 2024, a 13.3-fold rise from 2020. There were also 1,698 thefts of street grates, a 6.4-fold increase.
The agency will solicit public comments on the regulatory change from June 27 to July 26.
Additionally, the NPA has specified tools prohibited from concealed carry under the new metal theft prevention law, which aims to curb the distribution of stolen metal scraps. Cable cutters at least 45 centimeters long and bolt cutters 75 centimeters or longer, including electric and hydraulic types, will be regulated under the new law.
The NPA will collect public comments for this as well, with the new regulations expected to take effect Sept. 1.
