A teenager who went around unmanned stores stealing cash to repay debt from online gambling was caught by police.
Ilsan West Police Station said on the 17th that it apprehended and is investigating A, a 16-year-old boy, on suspicion of aggravated theft, attempted aggravated theft, and unlicensed driving under the Road Traffic Act.
Police said A is suspected of entering seven unmanned stores around Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, over three days in early last month and stealing cash 10 times by smashing kiosks with tools. The stolen cash totaled about 870,000 won, and the cost to repair the damaged kiosks was reported to be about 3.8 million won.
Police launched an investigation, including a search of the area, after receiving a report that a safe at an unmanned store had been emptied. During the process, additional theft reports from other unmanned stores came in, and it was confirmed that A committed a series of crimes at seven unmanned stores over about three hours.
While moving along a predicted escape route, police spotted a motorcycle rider who matched A's description and arrested the rider.
A reportedly told police that the crimes were committed to pay off debt from online gambling. The motorcycle A used in the crimes was found to be stolen property, and A was found to have driven the motorcycle without a license.
Police plan to refer A to prosecutors.