Middle School Students Caught After Breaking Into Cars in Apartment Complex and Enjoying Pork Belly Dinner, Tracked Down by Wireless Earphone Location

[The Financial News] Middle school students who broke into a car parked in an apartment’s underground parking lot were caught thanks to the location tracking function of the stolen wireless earphones.

On the 5th, JTBC's 'Case Chief' introduced the story of a tipster, Mr. A, who was victimized by middle school thieves.
Mr. A, who lives in an apartment in Seoul, said that on the 1st, while heading to the underground parking lot to go to work, he found a wireless earphone case near his car.
At first, he thought he had dropped it himself, but noticed something was wrong when he saw the side mirror was not folded and the inside of the car was in disarray.
Remembering that he had not locked his car after taking something out a few days earlier, he checked the underground parking lot’s CCTV with a building staff member. The footage showed four boys and girls, appearing to be middle school students, entering the parking lot, splitting up, opening car doors, and stealing items from inside several vehicles.
They also broke into Mr. A's car, stealing a luxury wallet, wireless earphones, and other items before fleeing.
Mr. A tracked their route using the wireless earphone location alert and reported it to the police.
He then took a taxi to pursue them himself but was unable to catch them.

Later that evening, just as Mr. A and his wife were about to go to bed after dinner, a new location update for the wireless earphones arrived. Mr. A and his wife took a taxi to the new location.
The signal stopped near a pork belly restaurant.
Mr. A looked through the restaurant window and saw middle school students eating meat inside.
He brought his phone close to the wall, and the wireless earphone location showed within a one-meter radius. He was convinced the students eating inside were the culprits.
Mr. A asked his wife to call the police, then entered the restaurant and approached the students.
One of the kids, realizing something was wrong, said he was going to the restroom and tried to escape. Mr. A chased after him.
The other students also scattered as soon as they paid, but all four were eventually apprehended by the police who responded to the report.
A restaurant staff member said, "The kids looked excited, even high-fiving staff as they entered the restaurant. I heard they even bragged to the servers about having a luxury watch and wallet."
Mr. A stated, "I'm relieved they were caught, but the kids threw away the wireless earphones while running, so I couldn't get them back. The luxury wallet stolen has not yet been returned as the investigation is ongoing. I also don't know if the cards or gift certificates in the wallet have been used."
He added, "I heard there were other victims in the apartment parking lot. I’m sure there are more victims elsewhere as well."
He emphasized, "I don't think they should be given lenient punishment just because they are young."
Meanwhile, the police have booked the four middle school students on theft charges and are investigating, believing they have committed multiple thefts across Seoul.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter