A man in his 70s who approached lower-grade elementary school girls saying he would buy them dolls was arrested by police. As similar attempted luring cases involving minors have been uncovered one after another recently in the Gyeonggi region, parents' anxiety is growing.
Hwaseong Seobu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said on the 16th that it is investigating a man in his 70s, identified as A, on suspicion of attempting to lure a minor.
A is accused of approaching three lower-grade elementary school girls near an elementary school in Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong, around 1:30 p.m. on the 15th and trying to lure them by saying, "I will buy you dolls." He reportedly left when the children refused.
After the children returned home, they told their parents about the incident, and the parents immediately reported it to the police. Based on the victims' statements, police identified A and brought the person in for questioning without detention. A reportedly said in a police interview that the intent was "to play with the children at the playground." Police are investigating the exact intent and circumstances.
An attempt to lure minors was also uncovered in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Suwon Paldal Police Station arrested B, a Nepalese national in his 20s who is staying illegally, in the act on the 13th at about 7:40 p.m. near Suwon Station's Rodeo Street on suspicion of approaching two male middle school students and saying, "I will buy you candy."
B reportedly said at the time that the person "was drunk." However, considering B's illegal residency status and the recent spread of public anxiety over crimes targeting children, police applied for an arrest warrant. The court issued an arrest warrant for B the previous day. Police are investigating the motive and other details while B is under arrest.