Tourists Warned Of Bag Snatching Crimes In Bali’s Kuta Resort

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Tourists in Bali are being called to prioritise personal safety as police work to crack down on theft and crime in top resort areas.

Yet another bag snatching has been recorded in Bali’s Kuta, adding to a series of such crimes against tourists in the resort this year alone. 

A tourist, initially reported to be an Irish citizen, was attacked on Jalan Kubu Anyar in Kuta on Monday, 1st September. CCTV footage of the incident has now been circulating online as a police investigation is underway. The CCTV footage shows the victim walking with her mother. At the time, the victim and her mother were about to cross from the left lane to the right lane. The victim was on the right.

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The video shows that as they were about to cross the road from the opposite direction, a black automatic motorbike rider, wearing a grey helmet with a mask and a black jacket, turned around in front of the victim.  

The Kuta Police Chief, Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra, confirmed the robbery. He said the perpetrator failed to take the victim’s necklace. He told reporters, “At that time, the victim was about to cross the road. The perpetrator came on a motorbike and immediately pulled the victim’s necklace. Fortunately, the victim’s necklace didn’t break. However, the victim fell to the asphalt due to the force of the pull.”

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He told the media that the victim has not yet made a formal report to the police, but that his teams are following up on the video. Police Chief Diputra shared, “We have examined the physical characteristics of the perpetrator and the vehicle used. That’s all we can say about the incident.”

The Police Chief has called on the public to report any potential crime in their area by contacting the 110 call center. He said, “We invite the entire community to work together to maintain security and order, because conducive public order and security is not only the task of the Police, but our shared responsibility.”

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He concluded with an appeal to the public to always be alert to potential criminal acts, especially bag and jewellery snatching, by not wearing necklaces in public and vulnerable places, not using cell phones while driving, and being mindful of their choice of handbags and backpacks. 

Police in Bali have been increasing night patrols in busy and crime-prone resort areas like Kuta over the last year; however, these kinds of attacks are common.

Tourists are strongly advised to get a taxi after dark in tourist areas like Kuta, especially late at night or if carrying valuables with them.

These kinds of ‘snatching’ attacks tend to happen on quiet streets, even those that are well-lit. The attacks are both opportunistic and strategic.

Criminals will cruise the area on the lookout for tourists who are ‘easy’ targets. 

It is not only the Bali Police who are conducting safety patrols in Kuta, but the officers from the Kuta Traditional Village too.

Back in May 2025, following a rise in the number of these kinds of attacks, the Head of the Kuta Traditional Village, Ngurah Alit Ardana, told a community stakeholder meeting, “Our area is guarded by 150 self-initiative security members. They routinely maintain the security of the area. The Kuta area, which is an international tourist destination, should be a special concern for security.”

This week, the Irish Foreign Office, like many foreign office agencies around the world, issued updated travel warnings for tourists heading to Indonesia, following recent political demonstrations. The latest updates from the Irish Foreign Office explain, in brief, “Any Irish citizens in Indonesia should exercise a high degree of caution and closely follow the instructions of the local authorities.”