Police Arrest Thieves Targeting Tourists In One Of Bali’s Most Popular Destinations

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Police in Bali have made a series of arrests in the popular resort of Kuta.

Although Bali is one of the safest destinations for travel, during the high seasons, there is always a small spike in crimes against tourists. Thankfully, the police have just made the streets safer.

Kuta Police have arrested four men in connection with a series of thefts against tourists in Bali. The men have admitted that they had been targeting foreign tourists in the Kuta Beach and Seminyak area. 

Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Yogie Pramagita spoke to reporters about the arrests. He said that two of the men, known by their initials WB and MG, were arrested for mugging tourists in the Kuta area.

A second duo was also arrested and was found to have been targeting tourists for their phones in separate incidences too.

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It is believed that the thieves carried out more than eight thefts on tourists before they were arrested by the police. WB and MG were arrested on Wednesday, 26th July, at 11.45 pm on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Kuta.

Police were called to the scene after the pair crashed their bike in their attempted getaway. They were found to have committed aggravated theft. 

Commissioner Pramagita told reporters, “A foreigner with the initials ACL came to the Kuta Police Headquarters on Sunday 16th July 2023 and reported that he had been mugged at the crime scene on Jalan Sariande, Seminyak, Kuta.”

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The victim reported walking from his accommodation in the Seminyak area to a nearby restaurant.

The pair are believed to have targeted the foreigners in tourists and aggressively stole his phone from him. Reports suggest the victim called for help and lately reported the incident to the Kuta Police.

During questioning, the thieves admitted that their attack on ACL was not their first; they admitted to conducting a number of thefts against tourists in the days prior to their arrests. 

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Commissioner Pramagita told reporters how the thieves had also targeted foreign tourists on Jalan Saraswati III in Seminyak and Jalan Sunset Road at the heart of Kuta.

Victims have each experienced losses of around IDR 20 million each as the thieves were targeting high-value mobile phones. 

Since one of the four men initially arrested was later found to be underage, just three of the criminals remain in police curiosity and face a maximum sentence of seven years in provision for theft. 

The news of target theft against tourists in Bali is a scary thing to think about.

While tourists must take personal safety seriously, especially if walking at night in these theft-prone areas, Bali remains a safe place to visit. 

As police and other security teams in Bali work to crack down on crime against tourists, there are a few things tourists can do to help keep their valuables safe. 

Where possible, tourists should always be aware of their surroundings and avoid walking while looking down at their mobile phones for too long.

Tourists should be especially vigilant if they have to walk following Google Maps. Where possible, it is best to avoid getting a phone out while walking along the pavement or stopping on a roadside.

Many of the reports of thefts against tourists show that thieves swipe phones from tourists’ hands as they drive by or have a getaway driver ready close by. 

Tourists should also avoid driving with a mobile phone in a holder on the handlebars of a moped; this leaves devices exposed and easy to snatch. 

Indonesia’s Tourism Board, Wonderful Indonesia, recently issued this safety advice to tourists.

“Keep your precious belongings under lock and key by utilizing the convenient hotel safe or securing them in your accommodation. While exploring the enchanting sights, remain vigilant and discreet to deter any potential theft.”

Police patrols have increased across Bali this high season. In Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud, there are more police out and about.

Their mission is to help tourists feel safe, deter criminals and communicate with visitors about how they should and shouldn’t behave in light of reports of some tourists behaving badly on the island.