Luxury thief flees department store by taxi — only to be dropped off at a police station

A suspect in their 20s who stole goods worth 3.3 million won ($2,470) from a department store's luxury boutique and fled by taxi was caught through the quick thinking of a police officer and a taxi driver.

According to Yonhap and the Yeongdo Police Station, the suspect visited a luxury store on the first floor of a department store in Busanjin-gu, Busan, on Wednesday and walked out wearing a pair of shoes and a necklace worth 3.3 million won without paying.

The suspect hailed a taxi immediately upon leaving the department store and headed toward Yeongdo-gu.

After receiving a report from store staff, police traced the taxi's license plate and called the driver, asking the driver to pretend to need a restroom break and pull over near a police station or substation.

The driver told the suspect a restroom stop was needed and parked near Yeongdo Police Station, which happened to be along the route to the intended destination. Officers waiting at the scene detained the suspect. Police booked the suspect without detention on theft charges and are investigating the motive.

Police said the taxi driver's cooperation enabled a swift arrest, and presented the driver with a letter of appreciation and a cash reward.