Bali continues to thrive as a popular destination, with just over a million tourists visiting in March this year alone, up 10.50 percent on the same month last year.
According to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), 130,720 Australians visited the island this month.
And with the number of visitors to the area growing, and with the current peak tourism season, officials reminded tourists to be aware of thefts as they step up street patrols and surveillance in crime-prone areas across the province.
According to local media, bag snatching is one of the most common cases of theft against tourists.
Thieves are reported to drive cars to areas where tourists are known to hang out at night and attack at opportune moments.
It comes after a tourist was robbed in coastal hotspot Uluwatu, near Bingin Beach.
CCTV footage shows the woman walking alone in Pecatu village on the evening of June 28 before she is approached by a man on a motorcycle, who sneaks up behind her and snatches her bag, The Bali Sun reported.
The thief allegedly knocked the woman to the floor and then stole her bag, jumped back on the bike and sped away.
“South Kuta Police acted quickly, deploying a full small unit team (UKL) to carry out crime scene checks (TKP) and gather initial information on the ground,”
This was announced by the head of the Denpasar Police Public Relations Department, Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya.
Tourists are advised to travel by taxi at night if possible and to leave valuables securely at their accommodation.
Samantha, an Australian content creator who regularly posts about Bali travel, warned that thefts were “really bad” at the moment.
“If you’re going to Bali anytime soon, there’s one thing you need to know,” she began the clip.
She said that while the island is her “favorite place on the planet” with “so much to offer”, the only thing that is “causing a lot of problems” at the moment is the theft of phones and jewellery.
“It’s really, really bad right now, I’m not going to lie,” Samantha, who lives in Bali. warned.
“Many of my local friends warned me.”
She explained that after she received a massage in Seminyak recently, a staff member asked her if she planned to walk home, to which Samantha replied yes.
“She’s such a ‘bad idea,'” adding that snatching the phone and yanking the necklace (from her neck) was “really, really bad.”
Samantha said that in Canggu, two friends had their necklaces removed from their necks and another had her phone snatched from her hand as she walked along a pedestrian path.
“If you’re walking on the side of the road, I recommend keeping (your phone) in your bag, but not keeping your bag on the road,” she advised.
“So, put it on your opposite hand and, if you have a chain, tuck it (your clothes) in so that it is not visible.
“It’s unfortunate that this is happening and many of them are not local residents, but people who came and committed these crimes.”
She warned Australians there would be work involved before visiting a hotspot, adding there was “nothing worse than not having a phone in Bali”.
According to The Bali Sun, police and security agencies are aware of the thefts and are working to curb crimes against tourists across the board.
Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said travel insurance may cover damages related to a stolen phone or wallet, but this isn’t always the case with cheaper policies, “so check the terms carefully before signing up.”
“Once you find suitable insurance, be sure to save your policy details somewhere other than your phone – print it out and leave the information with family,” Mr Kidman told news.com.au.
“And be sure to report the theft to your local police and record when and where you did it.”
Tourists can report crime or contact emergency services in Bali by calling 110. Switchboard operators speak English.