'Buyeo Tarzan' Arrested After Stealing from Village Halls 104 Times Over Six Years

"Buyeo Tarzan" Arrested After Six Years of Nighttime Burglaries
Man in His 40s Caught for Breaking into Village Halls and Greenhouses

A man known as the "Buyeo Tarzan," who for six years roamed the hills and abandoned warehouses of Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, habitually breaking into village halls and vinyl greenhouses, has been apprehended by the police.

The Buyeo Police Station announced on the 16th that they have arrested a man in his 40s, identified as A (nicknamed "Tarzan"), on charges of nighttime residential burglary. He is accused of repeatedly breaking into village halls and farm greenhouses at night to steal items such as laptops, mobile phones, and food, while living in hiding in abandoned warehouses.

According to the police, from 2019 over approximately six years, A is suspected of stealing goods worth a total of 6.73 million won in 104 separate incidents targeting village halls and farm greenhouses in the Guryong-myeon area of Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province.

A reportedly led a nomadic life without a fixed residence, staying in hills or abandoned warehouses with no owners. During his crimes, he wore hats and gloves and traveled only along farm roads, successfully evading police pursuit for several years.

In actual CCTV footage, he was seen prying open the kitchen window of a village hall to steal food supplies and transporting stolen goods on a bicycle.

To apprehend A, police analyzed CCTV footage from across Buyeo County, examined the patterns of over 40 unsolved cases, and searched nearby abandoned houses and warehouses. Through these efforts, they located A's hideout in an abandoned warehouse. After three months of stakeout investigations, they arrested A at the scene on the 3rd of this month.

During police questioning, A reportedly stated, "About ten years ago, I left home due to family discord and, without a steady job, wandered among abandoned houses, stealing food and other items to survive."

A police official said, "As we have pursued and apprehended the suspect who caused years of anxiety among local residents, we will continue to conduct thorough investigations to eradicate serious crime."