"This Is Mine"... Man in His 40s Sentenced to Prison for Collecting Valuables from Lost and Found Centers

Committed Crimes for Over a Year at Police Stations, Subways, and Airports
Obtained Information in Advance via Lost Property Website
Jeonju District Court Jeongeup Branch Sentences to 2 Years and 2 Months in Prison

A man in his 40s who repeatedly deceived others by pretending that lost property belonged to him and took cash and valuables has been sentenced to a prison term.

According to Yonhap News on the 24th, Judge Yoon Bonghak of the Criminal Division 1 of the Jeongeup Branch of the Jeonju District Court sentenced Mr. A (40), who was indicted on charges of fraud, obstruction of business, and embezzlement of lost property, to two years and two months in prison.

From June 2023 to July last year, Mr. A was put on trial on charges of receiving items lost by others from lost and found centers at police stations, subways, and airports and then using them as his own. He obtained information about the lost property through the National Police Agency’s lost property information website, 'LOST112.' On this website, information about found or lost items, including the place and time of discovery or loss, can be posted. After checking the website for simple information such as the type of lost property, the date it was lost, and photos, Mr. A visited the lost and found centers. He lied to the staff, saying, "I am here to retrieve my lost item," and then took the property.

Using this method, Mr. A traveled around the country and, on five occasions, took department store gift certificates, cash, euros, wallets, and gold bracelets that belonged to others. On one occasion, he tried to claim a gold ring at a subway lost and found center using information he had gathered in advance, but when a station attendant asked to see his ID and transportation card for identity verification, he fled the scene to avoid being caught. In addition, Mr. A is also accused of picking up someone else’s check card at a bus stop in July last year and using it to purchase a smart watch worth 1.14 million won at an electronics store. Mr. A had previously been sentenced to one year and four months in prison for habitual fraud in May 2021, was released in March 2022, and committed further crimes not long after his release.

The court stated, "The defendant deceived employees responsible for storing and managing lost property during his repeat offender period, stole property, and obstructed business, which makes the nature of his crimes extremely poor." The court also pointed out, "He has a history of being punished multiple times for similar methods, yet committed crimes again." Regarding the sentencing, the court explained, "Although some of the stolen items have been returned, the defendant ignored the court's summons and even committed further crimes during the trial, which indicates a high risk of recidivism. Therefore, a corresponding sentence is inevitable."