Essential goods delivery frequently disappearing... Theft suspects found to be women living next door

Repeated Parcel Theft by Women in Their 20s at Incheon Officetel
Police Urgently Arrest Suspect After Intensive Investigation and Stakeout

Two women who repeatedly stole delivery packages placed in front of other apartments in the officetel where they lived were caught by the police. On the 13th, the Incheon Western Police Station announced that they had booked women in their 20s, Ms. A and Ms. B, without detention on charges of theft. Ms. A and others are suspected of stealing delivery packages from an officetel in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon earlier this month.

According to the police investigation, they were residents of the same officetel. It was found that they stole items such as shoes, bottled water, and groceries delivered to other apartments at least five times while avoiding closed-circuit television (CCTV). They also showed meticulousness by disposing of the stolen delivery boxes far away from the officetel in a garbage dump to conceal their crimes.

Women carrying stolen delivery boxes from an officetel get on the elevator [Image source=YTN video capture]

As delivery items that should have been at the door kept disappearing, residents continued to report, but it was difficult to capture the crime scenes because there were no CCTVs in the hallway. Based on witness statements, the police identified the suspects' descriptions and continued focused investigations and stakeouts, eventually making an emergency arrest of Ms. A and others returning home on the 11th.

However, the police released them. A police official stated, “After confirming the identities of Ms. A and others, they were released for the time being.” They plan to investigate the exact motive, the amount of damage, and any additional crimes. They also urged, “Since similar crimes may occur during the holiday season when many deliveries are made, please quickly retrieve packages delivered to your doorstep and use unmanned delivery lockers for high-value items.”

Earlier in August, a man in his 50s who stole deliveries while roaming officetels at night in the Changwon area of Gyeongnam was caught by the police. This man is suspected of stealing packages worth about 1 million won placed in front of entrances at officetels in the Changwon area about ten times from April 27 to June 20. It is known that he used the stolen items at his residence.

In May, a man in his 20s who habitually stole other people’s delivery packages while roaming officetels in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was also caught by the police. This man targeted only officetels without CCTVs in the hallways and admitted to the crime, saying, “I stole the packages because I was struggling financially.”