A man is counting money earned from selling stolen jewelry. Video provided by Gyeongnam Police Agency.
A man in his 40s has been arrested for habitually burglarizing empty rural homes during the busy farming season and stealing jewelry and other valuables worth tens of millions of won.
According to the Hapcheon Police Station in Gyeongnam on May 13, a man in his 40s, referred to as A, is suspected of breaking into rural houses in Hapcheon, Sancheong, and Goseong between March 3 and April 24. Over the course of 12 separate incidents, he allegedly stole jewelry worth approximately 72 million won and 3.4 million won in cash.
He is believed to have committed his crimes by targeting empty homes during the daytime, when residents were busy with farming and had left doors unlocked.
It was confirmed that he sold the stolen jewelry at gold shops to convert it into cash, used part of the money for living expenses, and squandered the rest on gambling.
The police conducted an intensive investigation by analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and tracking the vehicle used in the crimes. On April 29, they apprehended A at a hospital in Jinju, where he had gone to visit an acquaintance.
The investigation revealed that A has a previous criminal record for similar offenses and had been released after serving two years and two months in prison for the same type of crime in March.
The police expect that burglaries of empty homes will increase due to more outdoor activities during local festivals and the farming season. As a result, they are conducting a special crackdown on robbery and theft for three months, until June 30.
A police official advised, "When leaving your home, make sure to securely lock entrances and windows and be cautious about storing cash or valuables. If you plan to be away for an extended period, please request a patrol from the local police station or substation and take extra precautions."
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