Pine Tree Thieves Caught
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Police have detained three men for stealing a 300-year-old pine tree worth hundreds of millions of won ― after the men allegedly spent nine months planning the theft.
Two others, including a local daily reporter, also face arrest for blackmailing the thieves in exchange for not reporting the theft.
Police sought an arrest warrant for a 36-year-old man, identified as a Lee, Thursday for stealing the pine tree from a state forest on a mountain in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, March 21. Two accomplices were also booked without physical detention.
Tree experts estimate the value of the pine tree at more than 100 million won ($100,000).
The three began planning the theft of the two meter high tree with three meter long branches in June last year
Police also requested an arrest warrant for a 45-year-old local journalist, identified as Kim, for blackmailing Lee by threatening to publish their plans. Kim allegedly did this at Lee's tree farm in North Chungcheong Province on April 11 and obtained 3 million won in cash and two pine trees worth 6 million won from him.
Police found out about the theft following a tip from a gardener who said the journalist had taken his money.
Police are also looking for five other people who helped Lee.