‘Thieves who stole grave statues have been caught’
Police say the 130 stolen stone figures worth \190m

The police say they have caught the thieves who stole small stone statues erected in front of graves.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency has arrested three people, including a 41-year-old man surnamed Park, on charges of special larceny. Investigators say they stole 130 of the statues on 36 occasions between February and November of this year. The stone figures are worth a total of 190 million won.

People were also booked without detention on charges of transporting the statues, and an antiques dealer was charged with acquiring stolen goods.

Police say some of the statues made it to the mainland, so they are now focused on tracking them down there.

묘지 돌며 동자석 전문절도 일당 적발

제주도내 곳곳을 돌며 묘지 동자석을 훔쳐 온 전문절도단이 경찰에 적발됐습니다.

제주지방경찰청은 지난해 2월부터 지난 9월까지 도내 전역을 돌며 모두 36차례에 걸쳐 1억9천만 원 상당의 묘지 동자석 130여 점을 훔친 41살 박 모씨 등 3명을
특수절도 혐의로 구속했다고 밝혔습니다.

또 훔친 동자석을 운반한 운반업자와 이를 매입한 골동품업자도 각각 장물운반과 장물취득 혐의로 불구속 입건했습니다.

경찰은 동자석 일부가 다른 지역으로 반출된 정황을 발견하고 이에 따른 추적수사를 벌이고 있습니다.