20,279 Arrested in One Month for 'Crimes Infringing on Ordinary Citizens' Lives' Including Robbery and Theft

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] As a result of intensive crackdowns on crimes including robbery and theft as well as violence around daily life, the police arrested more than 20,000 offenders in one month.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced on the 11th that from the 1st of last month to the 31st of next month, a three-month intensive crackdown is being conducted on "intrusion robbery and theft, violence around daily life, and other crimes infringing on the lives of ordinary citizens." Violence around daily life refers to violent acts and obstruction of official duties occurring in highly public places such as streets, public transportation, and restaurants.

Focusing investigative efforts to achieve results that citizens can feel, during the first month, a total of 20,279 people were arrested, including 7,728 for robbery and theft (340 detained) and 13,551 for violence around daily life (348 detained).

To eradicate intrusion robbery and theft and violence around daily life that cause great anxiety to ordinary citizens, the police analyzed the methods of professional and habitual robbers and thieves with high recidivism rates among offenders with similar criminal records and conducted swift investigations. As a result, a suspect who habitually stole 14 million won in cash by breaking bill exchangers after breaking into 23 unmanned stores nationwide was arrested.

Additionally, through reports from local residents and cooperation with related agencies, a system for gathering intelligence on habitual violent offenders was established. In cases where suspects assaulted neighbors and merchants for a long time and obstructed business, past reports and neighborhood inquiries confirmed additional crimes, leading to the suspects' arrest.

A National Police Agency official said, "As unmanned stores increase recently, crimes targeting cash inside stores are also rising, so we urge caution by installing separate locks on cash storage places such as bill exchangers to prevent becoming crime targets," and added, "We ask citizens to actively report violent acts occurring in daily life to prevent them."

The police plan to focus investigative capabilities on robbery and theft cases to quickly arrest criminals and recover stolen goods by tracking fences, thereby concentrating on actual damage recovery.

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