Photo by Asia Economy DB
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, theft crimes targeting graphics cards used for cryptocurrency mining have been on the rise.
According to the Michuhol Police Station in Incheon on the 24th, a 112 emergency call was received reporting that around 4 p.m. on the 12th of this month, two men estimated to be in their teens to twenties stole graphics cards from computers in a motel room in Michuhol-gu.
They paid cash to rent a PC-only room, then removed all the graphics cards installed in two computers. About 10 minutes later, they requested a room change and entered another room, stealing two more graphics cards in the same manner before fleeing.
All the graphics cards stolen were products used for cryptocurrency mining, with the damage estimated at around 4 million won.
The motel owner stated that it seems the perpetrators identified the types of graphics cards in advance through promotional posts on a lodging app.
The police are reportedly tracking the suspects based on nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and other evidence.
Earlier this month, in another motel in Michuhol-gu, two teenagers stole one graphics card from a computer in a room but were caught by the police.
In February, two men in their twenties were booked on charges of special theft for damaging computers and stealing two graphics cards and two memory cards at a motel in Seo-gu, and were handed over to the prosecution.
Meanwhile, although major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin have recently shown a weak trend, graphics cards used for mining are still traded at prices around twice their retail price.
Among these, graphics cards worth from tens of thousands to several million won are stored in closed spaces such as motel rooms, making them vulnerable to crimes.
A police official emphasized, "Companies handling graphics cards must pay special attention to managing their goods."
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