Are There Still Apartment Burglars These Days? ... Targeting Places Dark for Over an Hour

Intrusion Through 1st Floor Balcony, Theft of Valuables and Escape

A group of burglars who targeted only houses with the lights off for more than an hour and stole valuables were caught by the police.

On the 30th of last month, SBS highlighted a theft incident that occurred in an apartment complex in Jecheon, Chungbuk. In the footage released during the broadcast, a man wearing a black hat is seen lingering near a flower bed on the first floor of the apartment, then opening a balcony window and climbing over the railing to break into the house.

A group targeting only the first floor of apartments with the lights off to steal valuables has been apprehended.
[Image source=SBS broadcast capture]

The man who entered the house stole valuables worth 17 million won, including cash and jewelry, then fled by getting into a car driven by another man waiting outside the flower bed. Police investigations revealed that they were a group of burglars who targeted only the first floors of apartments, committing crimes only in empty houses where the lights had been off for more than an hour.

The group, who had fled, was caught by the police near their residence in Andong, Gyeongbuk, on May 4th?18 days after the crime. Investigations showed that they were senior and junior acquaintances from the same hometown, and there were indications that they had committed similar crimes in Daegu. The police sent them to the prosecution on charges of special theft and are investigating additional offenses.

This type of burglary targeting empty houses is reported to become more rampant during the vacation season, especially between July and August. In particular, burglaries concentrate during the month from mid-July and the first and second weeks of August.

If you need to leave your house unattended for a long time, experts recommend installing intrusion detectors that can be easily purchased online. Also, if you inform the police in advance about the days you will be away, they can patrol the area regularly. Utilizing the 'Empty House Pre-Notification System,' which collects flyers and mail, can also be an alternative.