Busan Haeundae Police Station arrested a Korean man on Apr. 19 for allegedly stealing valuables from 10 foreign tourists in Busan and Daegu. / Korea Times file



By Eom Da-sol

Police have arrested a Korean man for allegedly stealing valuables from foreign tourists at guesthouses in Busan and Daegu.

According to Busan Haeundae Police Station Wednesday, an American tourist made the initial report of the suspected thief, surnamed Kim, 43, in Busan on Apr. 5. Kim stole the tourist's cell phone while she was in a toilet.

Kim allegedly approached 10 foreign tourists at the guesthouses from Mar. 29 to Apr. 12. He offered to buy them a drink and then stole cash and valuables from them, such as laptops and cell phones worth about 10 million won ($8,700), police said.

Police identified Kim from security camera footage at the guesthouse where the American tourist was staying. He was arrested after a 14-day investigation.