"Too Hungry to Walk, Committed Crime"…40s Arrested for Stealing Vehicle in Gwangju

On the 15th, the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station announced that Mr. A (47) was booked without detention on suspicion of stealing and driving a vehicle (theft).

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man in his 40s who could not find a job due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was caught by the police after stealing a parked car on the street.

The Gwangju Bukbu Police Station announced on the 15th that they have booked Mr. A (47) without detention on charges of stealing and driving a vehicle.

Mr. A is suspected of stealing and driving a car on a street in Im-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, around 4 p.m. on the 31st of last month. The stolen vehicle was reported to be a K7 worth approximately 6.8 million won.

The vehicle was later found near an apartment construction site. Mr. A fled and disappeared.

The police tracked him down and arrested Mr. A at a hospital in Gwangju.

According to the investigation, Mr. A told the police, "Due to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, I could not find a job, so I wandered aimlessly. I was hungry and too weak to walk when I happened to find a car with the keys inside and drove it away."

Mr. A owns a vehicle himself, but it was out of fuel and could not be driven. He also had a transportation card loaded with about 80,000 won, which he intended to resell while wandering around.

Additionally, Mr. A, suffering from chronic illnesses such as alcoholism and unable to live a normal life, went to a police substation and requested to be admitted to a hospital, which he was. He did not disclose the car theft at that time.

The police plan to book Mr. A without detention, considering that he is currently undergoing inpatient treatment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.