Two Foreigners Arrested for Stealing Vehicle Again Using Spare Key After Selling Used Car

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] An incident occurred in Yeongam, Jeonnam, where a used car was stolen back from the buyer after being sold.

Jeonnam police announced on the 8th that they have urgently arrested and are investigating a 30-year-old illegal immigrant with foreign nationality, Mr. A, on charges of special theft.

They are accused of deciding to purchase a used car after seeing a sales post uploaded by Mr. A on SNS around September 2021, then using an extra car key they had to steal the vehicle parked at the victim’s workplace a few days later and flee.

Police investigation revealed that the transaction location was deliberately set near the victim’s workplace, and after the transaction was completed, the vehicle was stolen and taken away.

The Jeonnam Police Violent Crime Investigation Unit succeeded in identifying the suspects’ activity area through long-term inquiries and analysis of multiple CCTV videos.

Subsequently, they identified a suspect vehicle operating with a different model than the one registered on the license plate in the area, and on June 15th, they arrested accomplice Mr. B, who was hiding somewhere in Gwangju.

After the accomplice was caught first, the main suspect Mr. A went into hiding, but the police continued tracking and undercover investigation to capture the fugitive. Finally, on the 6th, they arrested and detained Mr. A, who was hiding in a villa in Chungbuk.

Jeonnam police stated, “We believe there are more victims who have not even reported the crime due to the suspect’s illegal immigrant status, and we are continuing the investigation into additional crimes,”

“When trading used cars like in this case, it is necessary to be especially cautious not to give extra car keys and to avoid setting the transaction location at the victim’s residence or workplace, as theft damage may occur.”