Man Caught for Sealing `Envelopes at Wedding Halls
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A man has been arrested for stealing ``envelopes'' containing gift money at wedding halls, police said Monday.
The thief, identified as Song, 47, was indicted with physical detention on charges of stealing about 280 million won ($300,000) of congratulatory money over the last year, according to Suseo Police Station in Seoul.
Police said he had committed similar crimes 27 times, including the latest one on Oct. 10, 2007, in which he took an envelope containing 15 million won of congratulatory money at a wedding hall in Gangnam district, southern Seoul.
Police said he took the money when people taking care of money bags were distracted by other participants in wedding ceremonies.
Police began pursuing the thief in November when they learned he left his cellular phone number on a stolen check.