Five Theft Reports Within Athletes' Village... Difficult to Find the Culprit [Paris Olympics]

No CCTV and Police Investigation Is Also Difficult

The Grand Palais in Paris, France.
Photo by Yonhap News

There have already been five theft reports filed within the 2024 Paris Olympic Village, but it has been reported that catching the perpetrators is difficult. It is hard to find witnesses, and the police find it awkward to enter and investigate freely.

According to the French daily Le Parisien on the 30th (local time), on the 28th, a Japanese rugby player reported that his wedding ring, necklace, and cash were stolen from his room in the Olympic Village. He claimed the amount lost was about 3,000 euros (approximately 4.5 million KRW).

On the 27th, a coach of the Australian hockey team reported the theft and fraudulent use of his bank card. He also claimed that someone entered his room in the Olympic Village between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day and stole the card. He received a notification from the bank about suspicious transactions amounting to 1,500 Australian dollars (approximately 1.36 million KRW).

The police are currently investigating the cases, but due to the physical environment of the Olympic Village, it is difficult to catch the culprits. There are no closed-circuit (CCTV) cameras installed in the athletes' living spaces, and access by outsiders is restricted, making it hard to find witnesses. Additionally, since the athletes are staying there ahead of important competitions, it is not easy for the police to enter and investigate freely.

Le Parisien quoted an intelligence source saying, "At every Olympics, thefts, physical and sexual assaults, robberies, and drug crimes occur, but traditionally the Olympic Village remains a sanctuary where police can only enter under specific conditions," adding, "The athletes' freedom is prioritized over security."

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