Surrounding Instantly... The Identity of the Suspicious Trio Targeting Women on Their Way Home from Work

Woman carrying an open bag without a lock mainly targeted
"Many cases in Han" Met on SNS and entered the country to commit crime

A trio of Russian nationals engaged in pickpocketing activities on the Korean subway has been arrested.

Among the group, one member obstructed the path of passengers getting off, another blocked the surrounding view with their body, and the remaining member systematically committed organized crime by putting their hand into bags.

On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Subway Police Unit announced that they had urgently arrested and detained Russian nationals: a woman, A (38), and men B (45) and C (45), on charges of special theft (pickpocketing).

On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit announced that they had urgently arrested and sent to prosecution Russian nationals: a woman, Ms. A (38), and men, Mr. B (45) and Mr. C (45), on charges of special theft (pickpocketing).
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Subway Police Unit]

Cash estimated to be criminal proceeds amounting to 5,587,000 KRW, department store gift certificates worth 1,545,000 KRW, totaling 7,132,000 KRW, and three mobile phones used by the suspects were also urgently seized.

Since around the 17th of last month, they had been conspiring on social networking services (SNS) with messages such as "There is a lot to steal in Korea and many people," and "Be careful when there are no people," before entering Korea on the 1st.

The three divided roles as follows: the so-called "baramjabi" who distracted the victim’s attention, the "antenna" who blocked the view of surrounding people, and the "gigae" who took wallets from bags.

First, A, the "baramjabi," repeatedly put on and took off her coat in front of the victim. At this time, B, the "antenna," stood near the target’s bag to block other passengers’ views. Then, C, the "gigae," used a method of covering the bag with an outer garment held in his left hand while taking the wallet out of the bag with his right hand.

The group targeted very crowded subway rush hours from the 2nd to the 12th. They committed crimes on the Seoul Subway Line 9 trains on the 3rd and 4th, and on the platform of Euljiro 3-ga Station on Line 3 on the 8th.

After receiving a report on the 8th that "a wallet was stolen on the subway," the police confirmed the suspects’ criminal acts through closed-circuit television (CCTV).

Police make urgent arrest at Myeongdong Station after stakeout and tailing

These accomplices each took on specific roles: the so-called 'Baramjabi' who distracts the victim, the 'Antenna' who blocks the view of bystanders, and the 'Gigae' who takes the wallet from the bag.

To catch them, the police began stakeout and tailing, and on the 13th at around 2:58 p.m., they urgently arrested the suspects inside a train on Subway Line 4 at Myeongdong Station.

So far, the identified victims were mainly women carrying open-type bags without locks on their sides. Considering that the suspects stayed on the subway for a total of 45 hours over 9 days after entering the country, the police suspect there may be additional undiscovered crimes beyond the confirmed victims.

According to the police investigation, the suspects planned to complete their crimes within 15 days in Korea and then flee back to Russia. When caught, they claimed to the police that they came to Korea for tourism and shopping purposes. However, a search of the motel where they stayed found no evidence of shopping.

Kim Ki-chang, head of the investigation division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Subway Police Unit, urged, "To prevent pickpocketing on the subway, do not carry bags without locks on your side or back; carry them in front when boarding."

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