Nearly 10 million yen was discovered to be missing from a hospital office in Kobe's Higashi-Nada Ward early Monday morning, local police said.
A guard at Konan Hospital called police at around 8:40 a.m. Monday to report that the cash, kept in an office safe on the first floor, had been stolen, they said.
A total of 9.8 million yen was stolen from the safe, which appeared to have been broken open with a tool such as a crowbar, according to police.
Clerks left the office at around 7:00 p.m. Sunday, police said, adding that although all doors were locked, one window in the office was unlocked. Police believe the suspect may have entered the room from this window.
Despite having guards stationed around the clock at the hospital, the theft was not discovered until Monday morning, police said.