Seoul police dismantle subway pickpocketing and stolen phone ring

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Force has dismantled a pickpocketing ring that targeted intoxicated passengers on subways and at bus transfer centers. Following a four-month investigation involving CCTV analysis and undercover surveillance, police arrested three individuals involved in the theft and distribution of stolen mobile phones.

A person in their 60s was arrested for repeatedly stealing phones from sleeping passengers and selling them to a fence. A person in their 40s was also detained for handling the stolen goods, while a broker in their 70s was referred without detention after facilitating connections between the thief and the buyer.

During a raid on a direct transaction site, police seized nine mobile phones, four of which were identified and returned to their rightful owners. Authorities stated they intend to expand investigations to include the distributors of stolen goods to eradicate theft within the subway system.