Chinese tourist couple steal a TOILET SEAT from a Japanese hotel - and have to post it back after being caught

• Couple reportedly stole the toilet seat in Nagoya, Japan, on October 17 • The Toyoko Inn hotel demanded them return the item, reports claimed • They posted the luxury multi-function seat back to the hotel the next day By Sophie Williams For Mailonline

A couple from China have been forced to post back a toilet seat they stole from a Japanese hotel.

The couple were on a trip to Japan and stole a toilet seat from their room in the Toyoko Inn hotel in Nagoya on October 17, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation with the People's Daily Online.

Upon discovering the couple had taken the expensive Japanese toilet seat, the hotel reportedly demanded the couple return the item. Not a good idea: The couple allegedly returned the toilet seat to the hotel the following day


The couple were staying at a hotel belonging to the Toyoko Inn chain (pictured), reports said

The couple from Taizhou, eastern China, travelled on a group trip to Japan and were staying in Nagoya when they decided to take the multi-function toilet seat with them. Upon realising the toilet seat had been taken, the hotel called the group's tour guide and reported the theft to the police, according to the Huanqiu report. The couple, named Li and Chen, claimed they took the toilet seat because they thought it was left by other guests who had stayed in the same room.

Ms Chen is said to be a commercial bank manager.

Japanese toilets have many functions and are becoming incredibly popular (File photo) The couple published an apology letter online which said: 'I hope the hotel and local travel agency can treat this with leniency. I promise this behaviour won't happen again.'

Japanese toilet seats are known for having many functions and devices and are becoming a sign of wealth in China.

Spring Airlines, the company the couple flew with, told MailOnline: 'We have verified that the involved tourists had purchased a six-day travel package to Japan via Tuniu.' The company added: 'They stayed at the Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusai-kuko Honkan where they mistook a toilet seat for an item left by other hotel visitors. They took it and left the hotel.

'The toilet seat was sent back to the hotel on October 18. Currently, the involved tourists and the tour guide are still travelling in Japan. They will head back to China on October 22.'

The tour agency said it held emergency meetings for the incident.

(http://www.dailymail.co.|Published: 11:46 GMT, 19 October 2016)