'Master Key Theft by Security Company' ATM Thief in 30s Was Former Employee

Arrested on Charges Including Armed Robbery
Captured 20 Hours After Crime... "Because of Debt"

A man in his 30s who subdued a security company employee, stole a vehicle and an ATM master key, and withdrew about 19 million won from the cash machine has been arrested.

On the 9th, Judge Hwang Hae-cheol of the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A (37) on charges of special robbery, confinement, and nighttime intrusion and theft of a building, as requested by the police. Judge Hwang explained the reason for issuing the warrant after a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) that day, stating, "The crime is serious and there is a risk of flight."

A suspect breaking into a security company in Wonju, Gangwon, and stealing an ATM master key, withdrawing approximately 19 million won in cash from a financial institution's ATM.
[Image source: Provided by Wonju Police Station, Yonhap News Agency]

Mr. A is accused of breaking into the office of a security company in Hakseong-dong, Wonju, Gangwon Province, wearing a hat at around 2:52 a.m. on the 6th, subduing an employee returning from patrol by tying up his hands and feet, and stealing one vehicle and a master key. He then used the master key to steal 19.34 million won in cash from a NongHyup ATM and fled.

The police began tracking Mr. A through analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage around the scene after receiving a 112 emergency call. They arrested Mr. A at around 10:44 p.m. on the 6th, about 20 hours after the incident, after he traveled to Gangneung using his vehicle and then returned to his residence in Wonju. Mr. A is known to have worked several times at security companies, including the victim company, but has no prior convictions for similar crimes. Investigations revealed that he committed the crime due to debt pressure.

The suspect was captured on CCTV conducting a preliminary survey of the financial institution before the crime. [Image source: Provided by Wonju Police Station, Yonhap News]

Mr. A meticulously prepared for the crime, conducting several reconnaissance visits beforehand. Before the crime, he broke into the security company’s management office and hid behind a work partition. When a security employee returned to the office after patrol, Mr. A ambushed and quickly subdued him, tying his hands and feet. The employee reportedly sustained abrasions.

Familiar with the site from his reconnaissance, Mr. A immediately drove the stolen vehicle to a NongHyup branch after seizing the vehicle and ATM master key, placed 19.43 million won in cash into a bag he had prepared, and then walked home. To avoid exposing his route, he took several detours while walking. Of the cash stolen from the ATM, about 2 million won had already been used to repay debts, and only about 17 million won was recovered.

The police are focusing on the possibility that Mr. A acted alone but continue to investigate whether there were accomplices. They are also investigating the fact that he had previously scouted other financial institutions, indicating premeditation in his crimes.