'Pickpockets Beware in the Subway'... Crime Decreases with Police Night Patrols

Subway Crimes Drop from 5,071 to 4,313
Nighttime Patrols by Subway Police Unit Lead to Noticeable Decrease

Crimes occurring in the Seoul subway over the past six months have noticeably decreased. This is attributed to the patrol activities conducted by the Subway Police Unit, who boarded the subway even during late-night hours.

On the 16th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that subway crimes reported through 112 calls from September last year to February this year totaled 4,312 cases, a 14.7% decrease compared to the previous six months (5,071 cases). Among these, thefts such as pickpocketing dropped from 513 to 418 cases, and sex crimes decreased significantly from 582 to 426 cases.

This is analyzed as the effect of the nighttime subway boarding patrols conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Subway Police Unit. During the same period, police officers belonging to the Subway Police Unit, together with subway security guards from Seoul Metro, boarded the subway during late-night hours to carry out patrol activities. Through this, they achieved results including 124 protective measures for intoxicated individuals, prevention of 59 thefts such as dropped mobile phones, and 52 volunteer activities targeting the elderly and vulnerable.

In addition, based on crime data repeatedly occurring within the subway, the police conducted focused investigations and arrested a total of 72 individuals from 2023 to last year, including subway pickpockets and thieves who steal belongings from intoxicated passengers, known as busokppaegi.

In fact, in February, after receiving a 112 report of 300,000 won in cash stolen from a bag, the police analyzed over 80 CCTV cameras and continued inquiries and stakeouts, identifying a man in his 50s as a suspect within five days and arresting him at Myeongdong Station in Seoul. This man, with 12 prior convictions including theft, committed the crime again six months after his release and was ultimately detained on the 8th of the same month.

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "To prioritize citizen safety, we will continue crime prevention activities such as train boarding patrols along with active arrest operations."

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