Tourists Must Be Mindful Of Motorcycle Theft In Bali

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One of the most affordable, accessible, and efficient ways to explore Bali as a tourist is to rent a motorcycle.

Whether a full-blown motorbike or a little moped or scooter, hiring a two-wheeler to whizz around the island is a popular choice with tourists. 

Motorcycles and tourists as a combo never seem to be too far for the headlines. Whether it’s tourists getting into collisions or breaking traffic laws, there’s a story every week about this unkilled duo.

This week, the warnings come from a slightly different angle after a tourist had their motorcycle stolen from outside their accommodation. 

@urexloversss Unser nmax old mana suaranya🤪 #nmax #nmaxbali #nmaxmodifikasi #nmaxviral #trendmotor #fypシ #CapCut ♬ suara asli – WILIAM – W⚡️LIAM

The theft took place at a proper location in Cemagi, a village just outside of Canggu. The vehicle belonged to a Canadian citizen residing in the area.

The police have successfully tracked down and arrested the thieves in question but have also warned all motorcycle users to be extra mindful of where and how they park. 

The Head of Public Relations for Badung Police, Iptu I Ketut Sudana, explained that the victim only realized his motorbike was missing when he was going for a walk.

The bike was stolen by three local men who had targeted the Canadian man in a pre-planned mission to steal the bike.

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The three men, Asrul Hadi (41), Heri Tri Ahmadi (35), and Budi (34), admitted to conducting a reconnaissance mission of the Cemagi Village area.

Sudana told reporters, “The location was Rumah Santai Villa, Banjar Batan Tanjung, Cemagi Village, Mengwi District, Badung, last February 14th. The victim immediately reported it to the police.”

Sudana explained to reporters that the trio pushed the victim’s motorbike, which was unlocked, to the Nyanyi area in Tabanan.

The perpetrators also confirmed the situation around why they chose this location, including noting that the security guard post is generally quiet.

@lifewiththebergs Traffic in Bali is next level 😂 #lifewiththebergs #travecouple #Bali #traffic #scooters #mopeds #holiday ♬ Happy , Sunshine & Ukulele – Balang_3go

The NMax was then hidden in a warehouse. Meanwhile, the trio returned to their respective rented houses nearby.

Sudana said, “The next day, the perpetrators came back to the warehouse to make sure the motorbike was still there. They stripped it so the motorbike could start and removed the police number plate.”

Sudana confirmed that after successfully starting the bike, the NMax was then smuggled all the way out of the Jember area, East Java, by February 16th.

However, in a coordinated operation between Bali Police and units in East Java, the vehicle was recovered, and the trio was arrested.

Sudana noted that the trio was also arrested in different places: the Kediri District, Tabanan Regency, and Mengwi, Badung Regency, on a Wednesday evening.

In the same week, five more bike thieves arrived at Selamat Habor in West Lombok after being suspected of stealing another NMax motorcycle.

Laksana Agus Wiraguna (21), Sugianto (40), Jaka (22), Suhirman Abad (25), and Mahera (25) were also arrested by police and brought into custody. 

Badung Police have told reporters that Laksana was caught smuggling a stolen bicycle with four of his conspirators through Padangbai Harbor, Bali.

Each of the gang bought an NMax-type motorbike with a number plate from Bali. 

Based on a report from the North Kuta Police, the initial theft was carried out by Laksana at 2 am at an undisclosed hotel in the Badung area.

He is known to have taken off with an NMax-type motorbike with the plate DK 2474 FCM. The motorbike was rented by a foreign tourist who was on holiday in Bali.

Tourists in Bali renting motorcycles are encouraged to park their bikes in secure areas, within sight of CCTV cameras if possible.

Always lock the vehicle’s steering and double-check that the key is not left in the ignition.

Taking the helmet away or securing it under the seat is also good practice. Helmet thefts are rife across Bali, with thieves targeting tourists and local people indiscriminately.