/ 8 April 2008

Mission Impossible for S Korean burglar

A South Korean jewel thief who said he was inspired by the 1996 hit movie Mission: Impossible found his crime really was impossible when he triggered an alarm system, a report said on Tuesday.

The man, identified only as Weon, used a hacksaw and screwdriver to break through the roof of a Seoul jewellers’ shop and then lowered himself by rope to steal items worth about 20-million won ($20 525), the JoongAng Daily said.

However, he also triggered an alarm system and was arrested at the scene, police in the city’s eastern Gwangjin district were quoted as saying.

The 26-year-old told police he committed the crime to try to pay off debts after losing his job as a deliveryman. “I was inspired by Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible,” Weon was quoted as saying. — AFP