A man in his 20s sentenced for habitual theft after stealing cigarettes, caught, and stealing again 2 hours later...

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] #1. At 4 a.m. on January 17, at convenience store A in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kwon Mo (27, male) tried to steal three packs of cigarettes from the display shelf while employee Gu Mo was dozing off, but the attempt failed when their eyes met as Gu woke up. However, Kwon's crimes continued. Two hours later, he returned to the convenience store and stole two packs of cigarettes while Gu was away.

#2. The unfortunate connection between the two continued a month later. At 6 a.m. on February 14, Kwon, walking in front of convenience store A, saw Gu dozing off again and took 10,000 won in cash from the cash register and ran away.

Kwon, who habitually stole goods worth between 1,000 won and 35,000 won from convenience stores and other places, was sentenced to prison in the first trial. According to the legal community on the 19th, Judge Yoo Donggyun of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 13 recently sentenced Kwon to four months in prison on charges of theft, trespassing in a building, and attempted theft.

Kwon was prosecuted for repeatedly committing theft about ten times over seven months from October last year at convenience stores and restaurants. He is accused of breaking into a meat restaurant in Jung-gu around 6 a.m. on January 8 and stealing 35,000 won in cash from the cash register.

He was also charged with breaking into a snack bar in Jung-gu on October 13 last year and stealing 12,000 won from the cash register while the owner, Baek Mo, was asleep and less vigilant, and returning two days later to take 7,000 won. On October 16 of the same year, Kwon also broke into Baek’s store but failed to find cash near the register, resulting in an attempted theft.

He is also accused of secretly stealing a donation piggy bank containing about 25,000 won from the cash register at convenience store B in Jung-gu on November 1 of the same year.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that Kwon was sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year probation last December for a separate charge of nighttime trespassing and theft.

In court, the defendant’s side pleaded for leniency, stating that "at the time of each crime, he was in a state of mental incapacity due to schizoaffective disorder." Schizoaffective disorder refers to a mental illness combining symptoms of schizophrenia with mood disorders such as mania and depression.

However, the court pointed out, "Considering that Kwon recalled and testified in detail about the process of each crime during the investigation, it is judged that although his ability to distinguish objects or make decisions was weak, it was not absent."

The court continued, "While Kwon admits his wrongdoing and appears to be in poor health, the sentence is determined by considering the repeated crimes over a considerable period, some crimes committed during ongoing trials for similar offenses, some committed during the probation period for similar offenses, and all other sentencing conditions."

However, for the crimes committed during the trial period for similar offenses, specifically those committed between October and November last year, Kwon was separately sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation.