Two people in their 20s detained for smashing convenience store ATM and stealing 5.7 million won

A CCTV still showing a suspect smashing an ATM in front of a convenience store in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, and fleeing with the money. [Photo source: Screenshot from video provided by the Gyeongnam Police Agency]

Two people in their 20s who smashed an ATM outside a convenience store late at night and fled with the cash inside have been arrested by police.

The Criminal Division of Gimhae Jungbu Police Station in South Gyeongsang Province said on October 19 that it had arrested and detained A and B, both in their 20s, on suspicion of theft and other offenses.

According to police, A and the others are suspected of using tools they had prepared in advance to smash an ATM outside a convenience store in Sangdong-myeon, Gimhae, at around 9:40 p.m. on September 29, 2026, and fleeing with 5.7 million won in cash from inside.

Investigators found that the two had conspired to commit the crime, scouted for a location, and purchased a crowbar in advance.

On the day of the crime, B is believed to have driven A to a location near the scene. A then smashed the ATM, stole the cash, and fled.

The two reportedly struck after the convenience store had closed, taking advantage of a time when few people were around. They are said to have spent most of the stolen money on entertainment.

After an intensive investigation that included examining the scene, analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, and tracking the suspects' movements, police identified them and obtained arrest warrants. A was apprehended on October 2, 2026, and B on October 7, 2026. Both were subsequently detained.

A police official said, "Theft following damage to financial facilities such as ATMs poses a high risk in terms of the scale of potential losses and the likelihood of repeat offenses. We will mobilize all investigative resources from the outset to respond more swiftly and rigorously."

The official added, "To respond firmly to robbery and theft, which are among the most typical crimes that harm people's livelihoods, our police have been conducting an intensive crackdown on robberies and thefts since September through the end of October." The official also urged financial institutions to "conduct regular checks so that alarms sound or security companies are contacted immediately if an ATM malfunction is detected, and to collect cash more frequently to ensure that ATMs do not hold large amounts of cash."

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