Unmanned Store Theft Crimes Persist
Police Struggle with Increased Theft Reports
Store Owners Form Council to Hire Security and Improve Management
Recently, theft crimes targeting unmanned stores have been incessant, causing frontline police stations to struggle with the flood of reports. Police officers, who have to investigate even cases involving damages in the 1,000 won range, express concerns about the increasing workload, while some criticize that the problem, which arose from trying to save on labor costs, is being shifted onto the police. This is referred to as the so-called 'outsourcing of public security' to the police.
According to the Fire Agency on the 2nd, as of March last year, it is estimated that a total of 6,323 unmanned stores are operating in South Korea. This figure includes unmanned ice cream stores (2,011 locations), study cafes (967 locations), meal kit stores (662 locations), and the Fire Agency expects the number to be even higher when considering various types of unmanned stores such as claw machine shops.
With thousands of unmanned stores operating nationwide relying solely on CCTV without staff, thefts have also increased significantly. According to statistics from the National Police Agency, the number of theft cases at unmanned stores in 2022 reached 6,018. This is a 71% increase compared to the 3,514 cases that occurred from March 2021, when statistics collection began, to December of the same year.
Police: "We have to investigate even cases with 1,000 won damage"... Increasing workload
As theft reports at unmanned stores increase, on-site police officers express fatigue. Because theft cases involving small amounts are continuously reported, police investigative resources are being dispersed.
One police official explained, "It is true that the workload has increased as theft cases involving damages as low as 1,000 won to 10,000 won are frequently reported," adding, "Moreover, due to the nature of unmanned stores, most shops are equipped with CCTV, so if the store owner submits this as evidence, the police cannot avoid investigating even small-scale thefts."
Another police official said, "Whether it is 50 won or 100 won, if a theft report is filed, the police have to investigate," but also lamented, "Even though it is stressful, since the store owners have indeed suffered damages, it is difficult for the police to show their fatigue."
Given this situation, police stations and precincts in areas with frequent unmanned store thefts are preparing separate measures. When thefts related to unmanned stores increased, the Mapo Police Station in Seoul temporarily implemented preventive measures in 2022, supporting door opening sensors and lost card storage boxes mainly for unmanned ice cream stores and coin laundries. In effect, the police partially shared the responsibility for public security management of unmanned stores.
A police officer belonging to a precinct in Seoul explained, "Precincts in areas with many unmanned store theft reports are taking measures such as strengthening patrols centered around the stores."
Clever theft methods... "Efforts from store owners are also necessary"
On the other hand, unmanned store owners claim that they devote a significant portion of their sales to security management. They say they do not just rely on police reports and leave things unattended.
In fact, some store owners are expanding their prevention systems. Mr. A (52), who operates an unmanned ramen shop in Wonju, Gangwon Province, spent 2 million won just to install a QR code entry terminal on the entrance door when moving in. He also pays 70,000 won monthly for CCTV operation costs.
Mr. A said, "Unmanned stores often sell low-priced items, so the maximum monthly sales are about 2 million won," adding, "If I hire staff, sales would turn negative, so I manage the store to minimize losses relative to monthly sales."
Store owners complain that the criminal methods have become more sophisticated, making it difficult to prevent damages. Mr. B (44), who operates an unmanned ice cream store in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, said, "There was a customer who pretended to insert a check card into the kiosk but stole items," adding, "Even though I was watching the CCTV continuously, it was impossible to confirm from the footage whether the customer actually inserted the card deeply or not. I was helplessly victimized."
Experts emphasize that efforts from store owners to manage security must be strengthened. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University said, "Cooperation between the police and store owners is necessary, but the police cannot fully protect individuals' profit activities," adding, "Store owners need to form management councils for unmanned stores and consider hiring private security personnel together."
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