40s Man Arrested for Serial Arson and Vehicle Theft in Downtown Gwangju

A man who committed a series of arsons in downtown Gwangju and attempted to flee by stealing a vehicle was arrested by the police.

Firefighters are extinguishing a fire on a cargo truck parked at the edge of an intersection near Yangdong Market in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.
[Photo by Gwangju Dongbu Fire Station]

The Gwangju Western Police Station announced on the 18th that they have apprehended and are investigating A (43) on charges of arson and special theft.

A is suspected of setting fire to a 1-ton truck parked near the Yangdong Market intersection in Seo-gu, Gwangju, as well as to piles of waste paper and garbage around 7 a.m. the previous day.

Although the piles of waste paper and garbage did not catch fire, the 1-ton truck was completely burned. There were no casualties.

The police believe that after setting fire to the garbage piles, A fled by driving a nearby truck that was parked with the engine running, and during the escape, he collided with another truck and then fled the scene.

A was caught at around 7:30 p.m. the same day, 13 hours after the crime, at a goshiwon near Chonnam National University in Buk-gu, Gwangju, where he resided. It is reported that A stated he committed the crime because he heard auditory hallucinations.

The police plan to identify any additional crimes committed by A and will apply for an arrest warrant at dawn.