Bali Police have been praised for their quick response in helping tourists who were the victims of a robbery in a tourism hotspot.
The team at South Denpasar Police Stations was thanked after helping a 35-year-old Slovenian tourist whose bag was stolen as she enjoyed dinner at a street food stall in the island’s capital.
Drive-by robberies in Bali are not too uncommon. Almost every week, reports hit headlines of both tourists and locals becoming victims of drive-by bag and jewellery snatching. It is an issue that police all over Bali are acutely aware of, and they have even increased patrols in the worst-affected areas.
While Bali Police commit to doing all they can to keep the island safe, they are asking for support from the public in return. Bali Police urge anyone who becomes the victim of a crime to report the incident to them as quickly as possible, especially in the event of a robbery.
In many cases, including one this weekend, the quicker the robbery is reported, the greater the chance police have of tracking down the stolen items and catching the thief.
35-year-old Natalija Kamin has been visiting Bali with her partner. The pair had stopped for dinner at a street food stall on Jalan Mertasari II in South Denpasar, close to the beach resort of Sanur.
Kamin is reported to have placed her bag on the plastic stool beside her at the table while the pair sat to eat. When they came to pay and leave, she discovered that her bag, containing all her essentials, was missing.
Witnesses at the food stall have spoken to police, and it is suspected that the thief, believed to be a man, swiped the bag away as he left the food stall and drove away on a motorcycle. Kamin and her partner reported the incident immediately to South Denpasar Police, who were able to help her use phone tracking software via desktop to track her phone.
The phone took the team to Jalan Taman Pancing Timur, where the bag had been discarded in a ditch. Incredibly, nothing had been taken. In an emotional moment, Kamin opened her bag to find her phone and wallet, which contained all of her cards, and other essentials still intact.
In a video posted by South Denpasar Police, Kamin thanked officers for their support in helping her locate her stolen items. She shared “Today somebody stole my whole bag on the street, and I came to the Police, Polsek Denpasar Selatan and I asked for help and we went to see and find it they helped me find it. So everything is here, I am very happy that I got my bag back, and thank you.”
While this incident ended in the successful recovery of the stolen belongings, tourists are urged to be incredibly mindful of their surroundings and their belongings at all times.
While Bali is a very safe and welcoming destination overall, opportunistic thieves operate throughout the island, especially in tourist resorts.
They seek out moments when tourists have their guard down or are not paying attention, and when walking along dimly lit streets late at night.
Examples of moments where tourists have their guard down include sunbathing on the beach, eating at a cafe or restaurant, piling up bags on seats, when waiting for a taxi, or when wandering through markets.
Tourists in Bali are asked to report any incidents of crime to the authorities immediately and ensure that they have fully comprehensive travel insurance before traveling to the island.
Travel insurance policies should cover tourists in the event of lost and stolen items such as phones, wallets, identity documents such as passports, cameras, and any other high-value items.
Discover more from The Bali Sun
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.