Woman Who Took Someone Else's Package Without Permission... Responds Defensively When Reported
Texted at 3:40 AM... When Confronted, Said "It's Your Fault for Leaving It to Be Stolen"
A woman who took a pack of bottled water left outside someone else's house without permission showed an outrageous attitude, claiming that "it was wrong to leave the item unattended outside for a long time," sparking controversy.
A woman stealing a pack of bottled water placed in the hallway. Photo by Online Community Screenshot
On the 11th, a post titled "Conversation with a Theft Woman" was uploaded to an online community. The author, Mr. A, said, "Around mid-October last year, a pack of bottled water left at the door disappeared, so I asked the building management to check the closed-circuit television (CCTV), and I heard that the woman next door took it into her house early in the morning."
Mr. A said, "The next day, I went to her house and politely asked, 'Did you perhaps take the bottled water early in the morning by mistake?'" but "she kept denying that she took it." Eventually, Mr. A had no choice but to report it to the police, and the investigation confirmed the woman's theft.
Mr. A added, "(The woman) ignored three police summons," and "early yesterday morning, two police officers waited leaning on small fishing chairs and handcuffed and arrested her in front of her house." Afterward, the woman admitted her wrongdoing at the police station and asked the police to give her Mr. A's number because she wanted to apologize directly. The police passed the number to her with Mr. A's consent.
However, Mr. A could not hide his astonishment upon receiving a text message from the woman. The message was sent at 3:40 a.m. According to the attached photo, the woman wrote, "Please send me the amount for the bottled water and your account number. Sorry for the trouble. Although it’s a small amount, I will transfer it within two days."
Mr. A said, "I thought it was best to let it go, but is it right to send a message like this in the middle of the night?" He added, "My goodwill is fading. Because of your theft, I and several police officers wasted more time than necessary. If it weren’t for your theft, we could have focused on bigger or more serious cases." He also indirectly expressed his displeasure by saying he sent a brief reply, asking her to put herself in his shoes.
However, the woman responded without any remorse, saying, "If it were me, I would think it was my fault for leaving it unattended outside for a long time," and "That doesn’t mean I’m confident about it. Also, you said I sent a 'brief message,' but do I have to kneel down?"
Mr. A said, "I woke up and found the message, and I was speechless. I wanted to let it go nicely, but after seeing the first message, I replied out of frustration and disappointment." He explained, "I left the bottled water at the door because I had ordered items that day and had to stop by another area after work."
Netizens who read the story reacted with comments such as, "There’s a limit to being brazen," "Just handle it legally and let her taste the bitter reality of life," "What kind of mindset is that?" "Tell the police you want strict punishment," "Her basic character is seriously problematic," and "If you leave any item outside for a long time, she’ll claim it as hers."
Meanwhile, Article 329 of the Criminal Act defines theft as the crime of taking property possessed by another person. Taking property that has left the possession of another is classified as embezzlement of lost property, which is distinct from theft. Theft can be punished by imprisonment for up to six years or a fine of up to 10 million won, and the severity of the crime is judged differently depending on circumstances such as unlawfully entering another person's house to steal.
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