Caught stealing, pretended to be a witness... Pickpocket caught again just 2 months after release

Targeting Bags Without Locks on the Subway

A man in his 50s who stole a passenger's wallet on the subway and fled by posing as a witness was arrested by the police.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit announced on the 31st that they had sent Mr. A to prosecution under custody on charges of theft under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes on the 21st.

Mr. A (center) is putting his hand into a female passenger's bag on the subway and taking out her wallet.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The police received two reports of wallets and cash missing on the subway on the 21st and 28th of last month, and identified Mr. A through CCTV analysis. The total amount stolen by Mr. A was 200,000 won.

The police noticed that Mr. A's method of crime and appearance were identical to those of a pickpocket who was arrested two years ago, and applied for an arrest warrant. After surveillance and inquiries, Mr. A was apprehended at the northern plaza of Bupyeong Station in Incheon.

Mr. A approached Mr. B, who was carrying a bag without a lock on the subway, took out his wallet, disguised himself as a witness, deceived Mr. B, and fled. Afterwards, fearing that the crime would be discovered, he called Mr. B saying, "The culprit left the wallet at the station office." In fact, he also returned Mr. B's wallet to the station.

The police additionally revealed that Mr. A stole Mr. C's wallet at Express Bus Terminal Station on Line 9 on the 28th of the same month using the same method.

According to the police investigation, Mr. A has 19 prior theft convictions and committed the crime two months after being released in February.

A police official urged, "To prevent pickpocket crimes 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.