Stripped Bare While Police Just Snap Photos: Outrage Over Lax Response

Controversy has erupted over the police response to a cable theft that occurred at a building in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on September 10 of last month.

The suspect broke the lock to enter the building, cutting and making off with all the electrical wires connected to outlets, fluorescent lights, TVs, and air conditioners.

Copper pipes on the ceiling, a smartwatch, and wireless earphones also vanished. The victim estimates that reinstalling the wiring and restoring the walls and ceiling will cost a total of 3.5 million won.

With copper prices recently on the rise, thefts targeting electrical wires are increasing, raising the possibility that this crime was committed for the same reason. However, the issue lay with how the police handled the situation.

[Informant : (After the initial report) Two police officers came, but because it was so dark, they just took some pictures and left. When I asked if they weren't going to take fingerprints, they said the detectives would handle it. I asked the detective if they were going to take fingerprints, but you can read people's expressions... I couldn't see any willingness to actively catch the culprit. They said there is a security CCTV camera nearby, but since it's a rotating type, they weren't sure if it would capture anything. It's almost been a month now, and feeling like I wanted to grab at a straw, I walked around my neighborhood and found a CCTV camera at a hardware store. It records right in front of my house. I managed to find that myself in just an hour...]<br />

An expert pointed out that a shortage of investigative personnel is the root cause.

[Lee Kyung-min / Lawyer : To be cautious, the police have taken over all investigative powers now. Because there are simply too many cases, a manpower crisis is inevitable. So now, you really have to be careful. You must prevent yourself from becoming a victim of such crimes. Because it has reached a point where expecting the police to secure evidence on their own is beyond their capacity. It seems things have reached a state where people really have to protect themselves now.]

When asked for their stance, the police explained that because the scene was in disarray, it was impossible to identify which objects had been touched, making fingerprint collection unfeasible.

They also acknowledged that the investigation has been slow due to juggling it alongside major cases, but stated that they are currently securing nearby CCTV footage to continue the investigation.

If the suspect is apprehended, charges such as theft, trespassing on a building, and property damage could apply, and if habitual offenses are recognized, a lengthy prison sentence could be handed down.

(Produced by Lee Seyoung | Video Editing: Lee Da-in | Footage Source: News Hunters | Production: SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.