Thief’s 11th Hit: Japanese Actor Loses $31,000 to Serial Subway Robber

Subway thief “11-Time Offender”
Swipes Japanese Actor’s Money Bag
The Bag Contained Approximately 34.5 million won ($31,000)

Police in Seoul arrested a man in his 50s accused of stealing a money bag from a Japanese tourist.

On Apri 25, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Subway Police Team arrested this man and recovered approximately 34.5 million won ($31,000) from his residence.

According to the police, the victim, a Japanese actor, came to Korea on April 10 to buy costumes and fabrics for his play.

He boarded a Yangju-bound subway at Jongno 3-ga Station on Subway Line 1 around 5:30 a.m. on April 14.

He was headed to Seoul Station and fell asleep without realizing he had boarded a train in the opposite direction. He woke up around 5:57 a.m. at Gwangwoon University Station, hastily got off, but left his bag on the subway.

The suspect in the same car took the bag containing approximately 34.5 million won ($31,000) that the victim had left behind and got off at Yangju Station.

The actor reported the theft the next day at Jongno 2-ga Police Station. The Subway Police Team then took over, scrutinizing 80 CCTV videos and analyzing transit card history to track down the suspect.

On the 17th morning, the police raided the suspect’s home, confiscating 15 million won in cash, another 15 million won previously deposited into his bank account, and 507,000 yen (around 4.5 million won or $4,000).

The suspect, who had been convicted 11 times previously for crimes including assault, told investigators he took the bag because “no one else was taking it.” He reportedly used a wrench to break open the locked suitcase.

Meanwhile, the money recovered from the suspect’s residence was safely returned to the victim on April 24.