Pickpocket Caught on Subway Stealing Wallets from Foreigners

A man in his 50s who stole wallets and cash from the bags of foreign tourists was arrested by the police just four months after being released from prison.

Mr. A is getting off the electric train carrying valuables stolen from a passenger's bag.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit announced on the 13th that they had arrested and sent Mr. A, a man in his 50s, to prosecution on charges of theft under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Mr. A is suspected of opening the bags of two Chinese female tourists on the subway between March 26 and 27 and stealing a total of 480,000 KRW and valuables worth 700 yuan.

The police began an investigation after receiving two reports of passports and cash missing on the subway. After analyzing more than 10 CCTV cameras, they identified Mr. A and arrested him at a bicycle racing track located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Mr. A attempted to withdraw money using a stolen card at an ATM but failed, then exchanged 700 yuan for cash at a nearby currency exchange and used it for meals and other expenses.

Mr. A has 12 prior convictions related to theft and committed the crime four months after being released in November last year.

He approached female passengers carrying backpacks or open-type handbags during the crowded rush hour, then used the method of taking cash from the victim’s bag when getting off the train. To evade police pursuit, he passed through the ticket gate without authorization after the crime.

A police official urged, "To prevent pickpocketing, passengers should carry bags without locks (open-type) in front of them when boarding, and immediately report to 112 if a theft occurs."

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