Generally speaking, Bali is an exceptionally safe vacation destination. With street crime, pickpocketing, and scamming comparatively lower than many similarly popular travel destinations worldwide, it’s easy for tourists to feel safe and relaxed on the island.
Safe and relaxed as it might be, that doesn’t mean tourists can completely let their guard down.
This week, villa theft and a motorcycle taxi robbery have hit the headlines. While the incidents have been traumatic for those involved, the cases can serve as a reminder to Bali travelers to check in with some security basics that are easy to forget while in holiday mode.
Police have arrested a 22-year-old Balinese man for theft. Ketut Manih was arrested this week after a 37-year-old Australian tourist reported that he had his gold necklace stolen from around his neck as Manih was posing as a motorcycle taxi driver in Legian.
Police have confirmed that the incident took place at around 2:40 a.m. on September 16th at Jalan Kubu Anyar Gang Sada Sari, a popular vacation resort in Legian.
The victim, known by his initials GHK, was walking back to his accommodation towards Legian Street when Manih approached him and offered him a cheap motorcycle taxi ride back to the hotel.
GHK is said to have accepted the offer of a ride and agreed on a price; once on the bike, Manih drove them down Kubu Anyar Street to Sada Sari Alley.
Arriving in Sada Sari Alley, Manih is reported to have stopped the motorcycle and pushed the bike over so that it landed on GHK.
As he lay on the ground, struggling to move the motorcycle off the top of him, Manih forcibly removed GHK’s gold necklace from around his neck, pulled the motorcycle up, and sped away. The necklace has a reported value of IDR 250 million.
The Head of Public Relations of the Denpasar Police, AKP I Ketut Sukadi, confirmed that his teams were able to track Manih down with the use of CCTV and by tracking his number plate.
“Along with the suspect, evidence was secured in the form of a set of gold necklaces and a cross pendant as a result of the perpetrator’s crime. In addition, the N Max DK 5289 ADF motorcycle was in mandated during the action.”
He added that Manih cited financial struggle for his decision to rob GHK and that he is not part of an organized crime syndicate, nor has he done something similar before, though that has done little to help his case.
“The suspect admitted that he had forcibly pulled the victim’s necklace. The plan is that the necklace will be sold, and the money from the sale will be used for daily needs. The suspect was charged with Article 362 of the Criminal Code about theft with a threat of five years in prison.”
Over in Pererenan Village in Canggu, TikTok superstars who were staying in a rented villa have confirmed that the property was ransacked while they were out exploring the island.
TikTok celebrities Dr. Richard Lee, Willie Salim, Kenneth Seymour, Regiena Shaelynne, and friends were staying at a villa on Jalan Babadan when they went out for a day trip, leaving the villa around 9.30 am.
Returning to the property around 6 pm on Saturday, 21st September, the group found that a MacBook Pro M2, iPad Pro M1, cameras, iPhones, and hundreds of millions of rupiah in cash were missing.
The Head of Public Relations of Badung Police, Ipda I Putu Sukarma, has confirmed that teams are actively investigating the case.
He said, “Based on the reporter’s confession, the losses experienced in the incident were hundreds of millions. Currently still under investigation.”
He also noted that the thieves had forcibly entered the property.
Tourists are reminded to store their valuables securely when leaving their accommodation, especially independent, private villas.
In the event that the villa does not offer a safe or locker, tourists should contact their hosts to locate a safe place to leave their valuables. Tourists should also be mindful of tagging properties and locations on social media, especially if uploading content where valuables are visible.
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Passing-Bye
Thursday 26th of September 2024
Contrary to the article, Indonesia ranks top of the places where ‘things go missing’. Too many prying eyes that covet others nice shiny things, FACT. Take the bare minimum with you / stay away.
Sven
Thursday 26th of September 2024
Generally speaking bla bla..
Bali is NOT a safe place. Leave anything under your motorbike seat and it will be stolen. Leave your helmet on the handlebar and it will be gone 5min later. Phones and handbags are stolen from people's hands on the roads all the time, villas are broken into all the time.
If you happen to drive around in the evening, thieves follow you, or illegal drivers take passengers to random streets to harass them.
The moment you step out of the plane, there is a line of taxi scammers all shouting to rip you off.
Go to money exchange and get scammed every time.
Not to even mention all the corruption if you happen to do anything more official.
It's an island full of thievery at every level. Just because you don't get shot in the head at night doesn't mean it's safe.
CJ
Friday 27th of September 2024
@Randy the great defender of Bali! here we go with the white privilege woke nonsense! not allowed to mention that the locals may be responsible for anything least we should come across as white colonists… and do you think the Balinese would like to be referred as living in a brown developing country, how demeaning… married to a Balinese for nearly 40yrs so know how it goes, smiling to your face but gossiping about you behind your back…
BaliEyeWitness...
Friday 27th of September 2024
@Sven, my experience... since 1997
I always hang my bike helmet on the bike handlebars, so far no one stole it. No one took things from under the bike seat.
However in Ubud in 2018 someone stole my wallet from my shoulderbag when on my scooter in Ubud traffic. $1000 Aus and 10 juta idr in cash and all my cards and ID. I was jetlagged and an easy victim.
My friend had her Ubud villa broken into and her top of the range camera taken this year.
Lucky she had good insurance. My travel insurance was worthless with my theft.
So there are real risks. Not to mention road accidents.
Sven
Friday 27th of September 2024
@Randy, all a lie? Lol. Social media is full of posts about all of those things taking place, almost daily. It was even more increased during pandemic where every day there were robberies and thefts in canggu and surrounding areas. Plenty of media posts about money exchange scams, villa break ins, taxi scams, all of it. There's even an article in Coconuts website about Bali's unreported thefts and police inadequacy.
The admin of this website and other readers should really put some attention to the comments Randy is writing under many articles, because they are full of blatant misinformation and deception. I wonder what is the motive.
Dear randy, if you happen to be just lacking information, and not deliberately spreading misinformation, I highly advise to join some of the big social media communities in Instagram, reddit, Facebook, etc. You would be surprised what you would see, instead of living in illusions about paradise Bali where nothing bad happens and only reading the Balisun.
James
Friday 27th of September 2024
@Randy, Hi Randy, Sven might be overreacting, I agree, but my helmet has been stolen multiple times - and never by tourists (CC tv). Jewelry has been stolen in a hotel, also not by tourists but by a maid. He might be overreacting, but reading all your posts, you are the one who thinks a single anekdote makes up for proof.
And please don't blame the politeness of the Balinese for misbehaving tourists. They don't care for a shirt. Money rules. Try arguing with the pecalang, or telling a pak parkir 10k is ridiculous... They are ready to be aggressive and do not take no for an answer. You can't play the 'we are polite' card only when it suits you.
One thing I do absolutely agree with is your take on local tourists from Indonesia. They are by far the most arrogant towards local staff, but not once is that being talked about in tpics like these.
Randy
Friday 27th of September 2024
@Sven, that’s all a lie!! Helmets get stolen ?? Everything is all the time?? Seriously dude. Foreigners do steal from other foreigners TOO!!
Why do you even visit an immigration office in Jimbaran?? There must be something... Why are you even staying Indonesia if you are constantly posting grievances that most of the time is not verified or even true. YOUR White entitled self makes you feel better living in a brown developing country.
One thing is true though, some taxi scammers are loitering at the International arrival. However several are working for licensed taxis as many passengers are using app rides that take away the financial resources from licensed taxis. Think about it.
Steve b
Thursday 26th of September 2024
Hahaha a 250 mil necklace, and muppets leaving hundreds of millions cash and computers and cameras in a empty dwelling omg go the tik tockers hahaha. Oh to pay someone 500 thou to sit in house. Why wouldn't you at least take the cash with you absolute Muppets
Randy
Thursday 26th of September 2024
There are some speculations that some foreigners short on cash would still steal from other foreign visitors where you least expected them to be or from empty villas. What’s worse are local gangs who may be associating with foreign mafias present on the island of the Gods. Anything is possible at this point with the numbers of visitors not properly vetted entering the country, and compromising national security of the country.
There was a story from our Balinese driver that his friend driver picked up unintentionally the wrong foreign passengers at Sanur Port. There were Indian male tourists looking for a free ride pretending to be the name on the written sign as the driver waited at the port. The name sounded Indian but not quite. However after 5 minutes into the ride, the driver sensed something was really wrong as they demanded him to take to another location other than a villa. The driver told them to get out or the police will be called. At the end the driver drove back and found the right guests to be picked up.
American Friends visiting Bali have said that some young shirtless foreign tourists would eat at local restaurants or warung frequented by both locals and tourists alike. There have been times where the owner would have to argue with these young low life punks to wear appropriately in a restaurant. This is what happens when tourists or investors tell others that Bali has so much freedom. That message is clearly mistaken. Bali is not a free for all place. There are societal rules to abide by...unfortunately, Indonesians are too polite to stand up against unruly entitled foreign tourists. There are also some pretentious local tourists from elsewhere in Indonesia who flaunt their wealth with a snooty demeanor.
Adrian
Wednesday 25th of September 2024
TikTok superstars! Says who???
Thommo
Thursday 26th of September 2024
@Adrian, Bali Sun has no shame in its grossly exaggerative language in its articles. It does not even credit a journalist for any of its content. Who rights the crap that constantly streams out of this news source.