A Man Approached the Checkout Counter and Snipped with Scissors... Stole 500,000 Won from an Unmanned Store

Kiosk Cash Register Torn Open to Steal Cash
Theft at Unmanned Stores Nearly Doubled in One Year

A man used scissors to tear apart the kiosk counter at an unmanned store and steal cash, sparking ongoing controversy surrounding unmanned stores.

On the 11th, JTBC's 'Case Manager' reported on a theft incident that occurred on the 5th at an unmanned ice cream store in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Around 2:40 a.m. that day, a man tore apart the kiosk counter and stole cash. The store’s internal closed-circuit television (CCTV) captured the man taking all the cash bundles and coins.

An incident occurred where a man used scissors to tear open the cashier counter of an unmanned store and steal cash, sparking ongoing controversy surrounding unmanned stores. On the 11th, JTBC's "Case Manager" reported on a theft incident that took place on the 5th at an unmanned ice cream store in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
[Photo by JTBC "Case Manager"]

A whistleblower, Mr. A, who has operated an unmanned store for three years, said, "The amount stolen by the man is at least 500,000 won." Mr. A explained, "I printed out the image of the thief and posted it in the store," adding, "It was meant as a message to 'turn yourself in and find the light.'" He continued, "To prevent recurrence, I installed a sturdy lock on the counter. Since the counter was opened skillfully, I suspect the person might have a criminal record." He also said, "This is the first theft incident in three years since opening the store," and appealed, "Running an unmanned store, experiencing such an event causes significant mental stress."

Debate Continues Over Unmanned Stores Where Security Systems Are Not Mandatory

Store owners operating unmanned stores like Mr. A try to respond to theft crimes targeting unmanned stores on their own but say it is insufficient. They also complain that since most thefts involve small amounts, it is awkward to report every incident to the police. According to police statistics, theft cases at unmanned stores increased from 6,018 in 2022 to 10,847 last year. This represents about a 1.8-fold increase in one year. Due to the nature of unmanned stores, the absence of people makes committing crimes easier, and because penalties for small thefts are weak, theft crimes at unmanned stores are increasing.

According to statistics from the National Police Agency, the number of thefts at unmanned stores increased from 6,018 cases in 2022 to 10,847 cases last year. This represents approximately a 1.8-fold increase in one year.
[Photo by Choi Gilsu, Asia Economy]

Although the police promote strengthening security systems such as access authentication and unmanned security system subscriptions, these are not mandatory, so most unmanned stores remain in blind spots of management. Consequently, some argue that theft incidents at unmanned stores reflect negligence on the part of store owners. Some netizens criticized, "If unmanned store owners are under severe stress, then they should just not operate unmanned stores," and "Instead of appealing to the police or the law to use public authority, store owners should hire people to manage their stores."

Meanwhile, on the 4th, a post titled "How to earn 15 million won a month by starting an unmanned ice cream business" appeared on several online communities, sparking controversy. The author pointed out the theft problem at unmanned stores and said, "Settlement fees range from 500,000 to 2 million won. If it’s a large amount, it can go up to 3 million won." In fact, some unmanned store operators argue that since initial costs are low, even if they suffer theft damage, reporting to the police and receiving settlement fees is actually profitable. On the 7th, there was also a case where a regular customer who had paid nearly 90,000 won at an unmanned store over the past two years was accused of not paying for 4,000 won worth of ice cream. In this case, the store owner demanded 100,000 won from the customer as a settlement fee, which caused controversy among netizens.

In response, some experts argue that as unmanned stores increase, punishment regulations suitable for this situation should be reorganized. In particular, since many offenders in unmanned store thefts are youths, methods such as implementing identity verification systems, introducing membership systems, and strengthening youth crime prevention education are being proposed. Furthermore, flexible operating hours for unmanned stores are suggested, with manned stores operating during times when youths frequently visit, as well as installing wall mirrors and police life-size cutouts as alternatives.