40-Year-Old Man Arrested and Sent to Prosecution for Stealing Phones from Drunk Passengers on Late-Night Subway

Police Analyze Over 70 CCTVs... Emergency Arrest

The act of sitting next to the victim and taking their mobile phone. / Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Subway Police Unit

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A man who selectively stole mobile phones from people who fell asleep drunk in the subway late at night has been handed over to the prosecution.

On the 5th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit announced that they had sent a man in his 40s, Mr. A, to the prosecution on charges of theft on the 3rd.

Mr. A is accused of stealing a victim's mobile phone who was drunk and asleep on a bench at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station platform on Seoul Subway Line 2 at around 10:25 p.m. on January 13.

It is reported that Mr. A committed theft targeting people who were drunk and sleeping on benches inside the subway and on the platform. So far, three victims have been identified.

The police analyzed about 70 CCTVs near the incident location to identify Mr. A, and after a 30-day undercover investigation, he was urgently arrested near Euljiro 3-ga Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 on February 24, about a month later.

During the police investigation, Mr. A admitted to the crime, saying, "I committed the crime to prepare living expenses."

The Seoul Subway Police Unit stated, "We will analyze crime data occurring in the subway to respond proactively and aggressively," and added, "We plan to strengthen prevention and arrest by operating a dedicated tracking investigation team."

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