Police Give 70,000 Won of Their Own Money to Homeless Man in His 40s Who Stole Two Bags of Potato Rice Cakes Out of Hunger

Unable to Resist Hunger, He Stole Food
Police Connect Him to Welfare Support, Paving the Way Toward Self-Reliance

A story has moved many: a man in his 40s who stole food from a market, unable to bear his hunger, was given another chance to get back on his feet thanks to the help of police officers.

According to the police and other sources on September 14, Chuncheon Police Station in Gangwon Province received a report at 3:55 a.m. on September 7 that two bags of potato rice cakes had disappeared from the freezer storage of a rice cake shop in Chuncheon’s East Market.

Criminal Investigation Division, Violent Crimes Team 2, Chuncheon Police Station, Gangwon Province

The police investigating the case apprehended Mr. A (49) on charges of theft. However, during the investigation, officers learned of his difficult circumstances. Mr. A had been making ends meet through day labor, but recently lost his job and had been staying in an abandoned building nearby. Unable to find food, he finally gave in to hunger and took two frozen bags of potato rice cakes.

Mr. A’s parents divorced when he was a child, and he lost contact with his mother. With his father’s whereabouts now unknown, he has been wandering the country and living alone without a stable residence.

After hearing about his situation, staff from the Criminal Investigation Division at Chuncheon Police Station sought ways to help Mr. A, separate from handling the case itself. They contacted the local administration and welfare center as well as a homeless shelter to guide him in applying for emergency living assistance. They also connected him to a homeless rehabilitation center in Wonju, which could offer job placement and certification support. During this process, Team Leader Park Chanmo of Violent Crimes Team 2, along with Sergeant Park Kwangho, personally gave Mr. A 70,000 won out of their own pockets.

Lee Sanggi, head of the Criminal Investigation Division at Chuncheon Police Station, stated, "Crimes must be dealt with according to law and principle, but for offenses committed out of desperation, punishment alone may not prevent repeat offenses. We will actively collaborate with relevant agencies to devise support measures so that those in difficult circumstances are not driven to crime again."

Meanwhile, on September 12, the police referred Mr. A’s theft case to the prosecution. It was reported that Mr. A did not qualify for the Minor Crime Review Committee, which determines whether cases are eligible for summary judgment or leniency such as a warning.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.