Targeted Vehicles Parked Near Event Venue for Theft
Unemployed Suspect Says He Committed Crime to Cover Living Expenses
It was belatedly confirmed that a man in his 30s who broke into a car at the Seoul Grand Park parking lot in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, was apprehended by the police and handed over to the prosecution.
The Gwacheon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 16th that they had referred Mr. A, who is suspected of theft, to the prosecution in custody on the 25th of last month.
Mr. A is accused of targeting an unlocked luxury vehicle at an outdoor parking lot near the main event venue at Seoul Grand Park at around 7:15 p.m. on July 19, and stealing a luxury watch worth approximately 27.5 million won (about 27,500,000 won) from inside the car.
He pawned the stolen watch for cash and later attempted to commit another theft at the same location, but was caught in the act by the police at around 4 p.m. on the 16th of last month. At the time of his arrest, Mr. A was found in possession of 300,000 won in cash, which appeared to have been stolen from another vehicle, and the police confiscated the money. The luxury watch that had been pawned was also recovered.
According to the investigation, Mr. A changed clothes and covered his face with a mask and a hat around the event venue to avoid police detection. He traveled between the crime scene and his residence in Gunpo, about 10 kilometers away, alternating between walking and using public transportation. He stated that he was unemployed and committed the crime to cover his living expenses.
The police are further investigating Mr. A's movements and checking for additional reports, keeping in mind the possibility of other offenses. A police official advised, "When parking your vehicle for an extended period at an event venue or recreational area, always make sure it is locked," adding, "Not leaving valuables inside your vehicle can also help prevent such crimes."
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