By Kim Young-jin
The three thieves who raided the hotel room of an Indonesian delegation in Seoul last week _ stealing secret computer files _ did so without evading the authorities, as no security guards or police officers were dispatched to safeguard the area, police said Sunday.
Seoul's Namdaemun Police Station added that the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, where the robbery occurred, failed to beef up security for the 50-member delegation.
The incident is being handled delicately as the suspects were believed to have been attempting to gain classified information on a planned arms deal.
The delegation, representing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, arrived Tuesday for a three-day visit to discuss bilateral cooperation.
The incident occurred Wednesday when Indonesian security guards were escorting the group outside the premises.
Police said the suspects _ two men and a woman believed to be Asian _ broke into the room and downloaded confidential files from the laptop of an Indonesian delegate, using a USB memory stick.
Hotel surveillance footage is too blurry to help identify the thieves, investigators said.
The delegation met with President Lee Myung-bak Wednesday for talks on expanding bilateral economic and military cooperation before returning home the next day.
It has yet to be confirmed whether the Indonesian government plans to file a diplomatic complaint over the incident.