By Peter Hong
Korea Times Intern
A 25-year-old drunken sneak thief was arrested for stealing a mini-van northeast of Seoul Monday, Ilsan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said.
The accused, identified by his last name Kim, was caught driving away from a shopping center in Ilsan in a Starex, which had been parked by a 40-year-old man named as Jeon shortly after midnight, a police officer said.
Police said the incident took place after the owner of the vehicle stopped at a convenience store and left the key in the ignition.
Kim drove for 20 kilometers, chased by Jeon in a taxi and five police patrol cars until he crashed into a flowerbed.
There were no casualties in the incident, but two of the patrol cars were slightly damaged, according to police.
The suspect is said to have been heavily intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of 0.192 percent.
"I'd rather be imprisoned because of a poverty-stricken life since being laid off last year," he was quoted as saying.