Elderly man caught for alleged ring theft

Police have captured a man, 70, who allegedly stole diamond rings worth more than 400 million won ($338,000) in Seoul and Busan.

The Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul said Friday it had detained the man, surnamed Park, on charges of habitual theft.

Police said he visited the stores as if he wanted to buy the rings and then allegedly switched the real diamond rings with fake ones.

He allegedly used that ploy to steal a diamond ring worth some 190 million won from a department store in Yeongdeungpo on Aug. 21.

Also, he is suspected of stealing a 230 million won ring from a Busan department store on Aug. 20.

Police said after word of the first theft spread through the media, Park moved to Seoul.