Increase in Theft Crimes This Chuseok, Targeting Stores More Than Houses

S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute Analyzes Big Data of 850,000 Customers
Last Year, 79% of Theft Crimes Concentrated in Stores... Targeting Cash Between 0 and 6 AM

There is a forecast that theft crimes, which decreased during last year's Chuseok holiday, will increase again this year, with crimes targeting vacant stores rising more than those targeting houses.

On the 7th, S-1 announced this after its Crime Prevention Research Institute analyzed big data from 850,000 customers. First, S-1 predicted that theft crimes would increase this year as the Chuseok holiday sees the lifting of social distancing for the first time in three years and highway tolls are waived, leading to a significant rise in visits to hometowns and travel. Last year, due to social distancing, vacant houses decreased even during the holiday, and store owners increased, resulting in theft crimes dropping by about 14% compared to the previous year.

The main targets of the increasing theft crimes are expected to be stores. According to S-1’s Crime Prevention Research Institute, residential burglary crimes decreased by more than 72% compared to the previous year, while theft crimes targeting stores increased. About 79% of theft crimes last year targeted stores. In particular, crimes targeting unmanned stores increased by 86% during the same period. It is explained that knowledge of and practical preparation for theft crime prevention measures targeting stores, including unmanned stores, during the Chuseok holiday period are necessary.

Looking at the data analyzing burglary crime trends by industry from S-1 last year, general stores such as pharmacies, clothing stores, and coffee shops accounted for the largest share at 34% of stores targeted by burglary crimes. Next were restaurants, which tend to hold relatively large amounts of cash in preparation for the holiday, at 21.7%. Unmanned stores, where crimes surged compared to the previous year, accounted for 7.5% of total burglary crimes. Following were jewelry stores at 7.5%, offices at 6.6%, and marts at 4.7%. An S-1 official explained, "Industries that usually have a lot of cash or items that are easy to convert to cash tend to be targets of crime."

Burglary attempts were mainly concentrated during late-night hours from midnight to 6 a.m. Crimes during this time accounted for about 80% of the total cases. In particular, burglary attempts were concentrated between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., a dark and sparsely populated time. This was followed by 6 p.m. to midnight (9.0%), 6 a.m. to noon (9.0%), and noon to 6 p.m. (2.2%). Looking at the entry routes, thieves mainly entered through the front door (30.3%) and auxiliary doors (30.3%). Windows (24.7%) followed. The most common method was entering through unlocked doors or windows, accounting for 39%. The stolen items were mainly cash (74%).

S-1 also provided tips for prevention. First, using a home Internet of Things (IoT) app can change meter readings and other indicators that thieves check before identifying a vacant house. Since packages left at the front door are also targets for thieves, unmanned parcel lockers in apartments must be emptied before leaving home. An S-1 official said, "During the long Chuseok holiday trip, locking doors and windows and avoiding keeping cash at home can reduce burglary crime damage. It is also a good idea for both stores and houses, which are major targets of theft crimes, to receive free security consultations from security companies."

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