SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean police say they have arrested six crematory workers for stealing and selling melted gold teeth from cremated bodies.

Police said in a statement Thursday that workers at five crematoriums collected melted gold teeth from the bottom of cremation braziers and sold them to others.

The statement says one worker pocketed about 20 million won (US$17,730) from the gold sales.

Police say one jewelry shop owner and two professional gold buyers have been arrested for allegedly buying the stolen gold teeth.

Police say they will expand their investigation into crematoriums across the country.