On-duty Police Officer Caught Stealing Mobile Phone from Neighboring Customer While Drinking

Ulsan Nambu Police Officer in His Twenties Booked Without Detention for Alleged Theft

A current police officer in Ulsan is under investigation for allegedly stealing a mobile phone from a neighboring customer at a restaurant.

On April 22, Ulsan Nambu Police Station announced that it had recently booked Officer A, a police officer in his twenties assigned to a local police precinct, without detention on suspicion of theft. The theft was uncovered when the customer checked the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in an attempt to locate their mobile phone.

Ulsan Nambu Police Station. Provided by Ulsan Police Agency

The CCTV footage captured Officer A taking the mobile phone belonging to a customer at a neighboring table.

The police tracked down the restaurant's customers at the time by reviewing credit card records and other evidence, ultimately confirming that Officer A had taken the mobile phone. It has been reported that Officer A is currently denying the charges.

The Ulsan Police Agency has suspended Officer A from duty in connection with this incident. A police official stated, "We are investigating the circumstances of the case and will take appropriate action based on the results."

Previously, in December of last year, Officer A was also disciplined with a two-month pay reduction after committing a minor theft at a convenience store while intoxicated. Pay reduction is considered a minor disciplinary action.

Last year, another police officer received a pay reduction as disciplinary action for repeatedly ordering subordinates to run personal errands and unjustifiably denying their vacation requests. At the time, the officer instructed a subordinate to purchase lottery tickets from a convenience store known for frequent first-prize winners, to pick up laundry from a dry cleaner, and to procure cigarettes, among other errands?a total of nine personal tasks. In December 2022, the officer received a two-month pay reduction for violating the National Public Service Act's obligations of diligence and maintaining dignity.