A Man in His 50s Stole Money Envelopes from Church Offering Box by Sticking Gum on a Clothes Hanger... Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] A man in his 50s who stole money by attaching gum to a hanger and placing it inside a church donation box was sentenced to prison.

On the 25th, according to the legal community, Judge Kim Donghee of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 18 sentenced A (58), who was indicted for theft under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and trespassing in a building, to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

A was charged with secretly entering a church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, five times from June 3 to July 6 this year and stealing about 800,000 won from the donation box.

It was confirmed that he committed the crime by entering the church, attaching gum to the end of a hanger he had prepared in advance, inserting it into the donation box slot, and pulling out the envelope.

A was previously found to have five prior convictions for prison sentences since 2012 for charges including theft and attempted theft.

The court explained, "The defendant has a history of multiple punishments but did not repent and committed the same crime again," and "He repeated the crime using the same method, and the victim wants the defendant to be punished."

However, the court stated the sentencing reason, "Considering that he appears to regret and reflect on his wrongdoing, and that the amount of damage is not very large."