In March, Badung police arrested eight suspects involved in thefts across Bali. Two of them were repeat offenders who had previously served time for similar crimes. Five of the suspects specialized in stealing from tourists in Canggu and nearby areas.
Badung Police Chief Arief Batubara explained that the suspects typically operated in crowded areas. “They always steal when tourists let their guard down and stop watching their belongings. The thieves roam around popular tourist spots pretending to patrol the area,” Batubara said.
Frederikus Yosef, known as Erik (24), from Southwest Sumba, and Ketut Ngetis (51), from Buleleng, were both previously convicted. Erik was arrested after stealing a tourist’s bag while the man was swimming in the ocean with his girlfriend. They saw two strangers come out of the bushes and take the bag. The man chased them and managed to catch one. His girlfriend’s bag was also missing—Ketut was later identified as the thief.
Erik admitted to stealing due to financial hardship, spending the stolen money on food and parties. Ketut also faced financial difficulties. He used to sell chicken meat, but after his business declined, he turned to crime to meet his needs.
Two other suspects from East Java were arrested for motorcycle theft.
Another man from East Java was caught after stealing belongings from an Australian couple while they were staying at a villa. The tourists lost jewelry worth 23 million rupiah. The theft occurred while they were away from the villa.
Another suspect from Timor was arrested in Kerobokan after a woman reported her Cartier watch, jacket, trousers, and even a garden shovel stolen. He was tracked down thanks to CCTV footage.
Finally, at the end of March, a 15-year-old boy from Karangasem was arrested for robbery. He attacked an Indian family with a small child as they were returning to their hotel after dinner at a local restaurant.
The teen cornered the family and ripped a 42-gram gold necklace from the woman’s neck. When her husband called for help, locals rushed in and began chasing the suspect. Police quickly tracked him down. It was later revealed that the teen had previously committed four thefts in Kuta.
“These arrests are part of our efforts to ensure safety, especially ahead of the Lebaran holiday. With these individuals in custody, we hope to reduce theft in North Kuta,” the police chief noted.
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