Modern-Day Jean Valjean? A Man in His 20s Caught Stealing Meal Kits from an Unmanned Store

Three Incidents of Theft Worth 100,000 Won Each at an Unmanned Store in Bucheon
Average of 13 Crimes Related to Unmanned Stores Occur Daily

From March 2021, when theft incidents at unmanned stores began to be separately recorded, to June 2022, approximately 6,340 cases occurred nationwide. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Recently, not only unmanned convenience stores but also cafes, PC rooms, and side dish shops have been increasing in neighborhoods, leading to a rise in theft incidents as well.

The Wonmi Police Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 18th that a man in his 20s, identified as A, was booked on suspicion of theft for stealing meal kit products from an unmanned store. A is suspected of stealing about 100,000 won worth of products, including budaejjigae, pork cutlet, and braised chicken meal kits, from an unmanned store in Bucheon City three times during early morning and nighttime hours on the 6th and 10th.

The store owner found it suspicious that products were disappearing and was monitoring the store with closed-circuit television (CCTV). On the 10th, when A was caught stealing products inside the store, the owner remotely locked the store door and reported it to the police. The police who responded to the call arrested A on the spot, finding him trapped inside the unmanned store.

A told the police, "I was so hungry that I stole food," and "I visited the store on the 10th to turn myself in." The police plan to determine how to handle A's case after investigating the exact circumstances. A police official said, "A was already under investigation for other charges," adding, "We are investigating as there is a possibility of additional crimes."

Meanwhile, since March 2021, when theft incidents at unmanned stores began to be separately recorded, about 6,340 cases have occurred nationwide until June 2022. This averages to about 13 cases per day.

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