Stolen Wires, Dismissive Cops: "Detectives Will Handle It" as Police Only Take Photos

The police response to a wire theft incident that occurred at a building in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on September 10 of last month is drawing controversy.

The suspect broke the lock to enter the building, cutting and taking away all the wires connected to outlets, fluorescent lights, TVs, and air conditioners.

Copper pipes on the ceiling, a smartwatch, and wireless earphones also disappeared. The victim estimates that it will cost a total of 3.5 million won to reinstall the wires and restore the walls and ceiling.

With recent surges in copper prices leading to an increase in wire thefts, it is suspected that this crime was committed for the same reason. However, the issue lay with the police response.

[Informant : (After the initial report) Two police officers came, but because it was so dark, they just took pictures and left. So when I asked if they weren't going to collect fingerprints, they said the detectives would handle it. I asked the detective if they weren't going to take fingerprints, but judging by the look in their eyes... I couldn't see any will to actively catch the culprit. They said there is a security CCTV nearby, but since it is a rotating camera, they do not know if it will capture anything. It has been almost a month, and feeling like I wanted to grab at a straw, I walked around the house and found a CCTV at a hardware store. It captures right in front of my house. I found it myself in just an hour...]&br />
An expert pointed out that a shortage of investigative personnel is the fundamental problem.

[Lee Kyung-min / Lawyer : To be cautious, the police have taken over all investigative powers now. Because there are now too many cases, a problem with manpower is bound to occur. So people are really cautious now. You must not become a victim of such crimes. Because expecting the police to secure evidence on your own is beyond their capacity. It seems things have reached a point where people really have to prevent crimes themselves.]

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

They also acknowledged that the investigation was progressing slowly due to concurrent handling of 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 may be applied, and if habitualness is recognized, a prolonged prison sentence could be handed down.

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