Anyone could have been in the place of Nataliya Kamin, a 36-year-old tourist from Slovenia. An ordinary dinner in a street cafe in Denpasar, a close friend nearby, other guests around. The idea of placing the bag on the adjacent empty chair seemed quite usual. But at some point, the bag disappeared, along with a smartphone, 900,000 rupiahs, and a credit card. Neither Nataliya nor her companion noticed when or how it happened. The loss was noticed only when it was time to pay.
All that Nataliya and other witnesses remembered was a suspicious man walking past the tables. No one paid much attention to it. When the loss of the bag became evident, that person was no longer near the cafe. Independent searches were unsuccessful, so the tourists contacted the police.
The authorities promptly addressed the problem and, with the help of a GPS tracker, found the bag in a ditch on a nearby street within a few hours. The money was gone, but the phone and documents were recovered. The identity of the suspect is being determined, and the police promise not to abandon this investigation, especially since thefts are receiving special attention now.
The day before, Bali's Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya held an emergency meeting, instructing his subordinates to 'strictly suppress crime.'
'We must protect residents and tourists. Banditry, theft, extortion - all these threaten Bali's reputation!' he said.
He admitted that trust in the police is declining but called the criticism a 'catalyst for improvements.' Now, precincts are obliged to respond to statements within one hour, nighttime raids have been introduced in poorly lit areas, and information on safety is being shared with tourists through social media and hotels.
The incident with the Slovenian traveler is not isolated. Every week, victims report lost bags, phones, and jewelry to the police. This occurs most frequently in Sanur, Kuta, and Seminyak, where police are stepping up patrols.
Thefts typically occur on beaches while tourists swim; in street cafes, if bags are left on chairs or phones on tables; and at night markets.
Police advise having insurance that covers theft of money, gadgets, and documents, keeping spare copies of passports and visas, and not carrying more than 2,000,000 rupiahs in cash. In case of theft, immediately contact the police by dialing 110.
Sources: detiktravel, Info Denpasar.
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