KUTA, Bali — Police in Bali have arrested two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, over a series of necklace snatchings targeting foreign tourists in the popular Kuta area, with investigators saying the pair admitted involvement in multiple thefts across Badung regency.
The teenagers were arrested on Saturday, October 31, while stopping for fuel at a petrol station on Sunset Road in Kuta. Details of the arrests were released by Denpasar Police on Thursday, November 5.
Denpasar Police spokesperson First Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya said officers spotted the teenagers riding together on a motorcycle during a patrol.
Although they were together when arrested, police said the two had not necessarily carried out the reported thefts as a team.
According to investigators, the 17-year-old admitted involvement in seven necklace snatchings, while the 15-year-old admitted to ten incidents in different parts of Badung.
The reported admissions remain part of the police investigation and do not establish that every alleged offense has been proven.
Foreign Tourists Among Victims
One case involved a 60-year-old Indian national who was robbed while walking back to a hotel after dinner in Legian on October 6.
According to police, a motorcyclist approached the visitor on Jalan Padma and forcibly pulled a gold necklace from the victim’s neck before fleeing.
The necklace was valued at approximately Rp90 million.
Investigators linked the 17-year-old suspect to the incident after examining CCTV footage and gathering witness statements.
In a separate case, a 33-year-old tourist from Azerbaijan lost two gold necklaces worth an estimated Rp38 million on Jalan Benesari in Kuta on September 19.
Police said the tourist was walking towards a hotel at around 10:30 p.m. when two people on a motorcycle approached and snatched the necklaces before escaping.
The stolen jewelry reportedly weighed about 20 grams in total.
The 15-year-old suspect allegedly admitted involvement in the robbery. Police are still searching for another person suspected of taking part in that incident.
Police Trace Suspects Through CCTV
Officers investigating the thefts examined surveillance footage from the crime scenes and gathered information from witnesses to identify those believed to be responsible.
During a patrol on October 31, investigators encountered the two teenagers at a petrol station on Sunset Road and took them into custody.
Police also seized a motorcycle and other items believed to be connected to the investigation, including clothing, a helmet and CCTV recordings.
Investigators said the teenagers claimed financial difficulties had motivated the thefts.
Both were taken to Kuta Police Station for further investigation.
Police are continuing to examine their suspected involvement in other incidents and searching for the additional person allegedly connected to the robbery involving the Azerbaijani tourist.
Because both suspects are minors, their identities have been withheld.
The arrests come amid concerns about street thefts targeting visitors in Bali’s tourism areas. However, police have not established a connection between these arrests and the separate robbery of a Polish tourist in Kerobokan on November 1.
The allegations against the teenagers have not been proven in court.
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