From Cash to Gold Bars... Habitual Parking Lot Thief Apprehended

Stealing Meal Kits from Unmanned Stores

A man in his 50s who stole cash, gold bars, and other valuables from parking lots around Seoul has been apprehended by the police.

Bird's-eye view of Geumcheon Police Station

The Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul announced on June 5 that a man surnamed Kim had been arrested and detained on charges including theft.

Kim is accused of breaking into vehicles parked unlocked in parking lots throughout Seoul from September 2023 until recently, stealing two 24K gold bars worth 5,840,000 won and 535,000 won in cash. He is also suspected of stealing meal kits from unmanned stores and fleeing with a total of 7,661,000 won in ten separate incidents.

The police apprehended Kim at a hideout in Seoul on May 28 after analyzing CCTV footage. Kim attempted to evade police tracking by using only cash and by not recording his personal information in the ledger when selling gold bars at gold shops.

The police are also considering charging two gold shop owners with occupational negligence in receiving stolen property for failing to record personal information in their ledgers, and are investigating whether Kim committed any additional crimes.

A police official stated, "Vehicle thefts frequently occur at night in parking lots in residential alleys, blind spots near commercial areas, and construction sites where there is no surrounding CCTV coverage. It is important to always check that your vehicle is locked and to avoid leaving valuables inside when you are away from your car."