Tourism officials in Bali have given their assurances that safety is a top priority after two tourists were attacked in a drive-by robbery in the Uluwatu area.
The two young women from Spain escaped with minor injuries.
Following a drive-by mugging of two tourists in Uluwatu, Pecatu Village, in Bali, the Head of the community has spoken to the media to confirm that the area is safe and tourists will always be cared for.
The head of Pecatu Traditional Village, Made Sumerta, told reporters, “In Pecatu, we know that it is an area for tourists to stay, both for short and permanent periods. Many tourists live in Pecatu, so that way, there are guests who enjoy nature by walking.”
He added, “As a whole, Pecatu is still safe; we should not generalize unsafe conditions because of just one or two incidents. This is just one problem like this and it could make Pecatu’s image not good. However, in general, I would say that Pecatu is still safe and comfortable to visit.”
Sumerta is calling on the authorities, tourism providers, and tourists to be proactive in keeping Uluwatu and Bali more broadly safe and crime-free. He reminded tourists of long-standing advice to keep valuable items out of view when walking down the road or driving motorcycles.
Bags should always be kept stashed away in the under-seat storage, and tourists must adhere to Indonesian traffic law and wear a helmet and suitable clothes for driving.
It’s not advisable to wear over-the-shoulder bags that can be easily snatched or ripped away.
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Sumerta confirmed that local security teams will be increasing patrols throughout the resort and community streets to ensure that potential criminals are deterred from the area.
He said, “We also hope and urge both lodging operators and those who accommodate guests to provide more detailed information to tourists so that they are more careful when carrying goods.”
The incident in question took place on Jalan Raya Uluwatu at 10 am on Monday, 25th March. Two Spanish tourists known by their initials BS, 23, and AS, 24, were mugged by a man driving a Yamaha Jupiter motorcycle as they left their accommodation to explore the area.
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The criminal attempted to snatch the tourist’s valuables, including the necklaces around their necks. Shocked by the attack, the two women fought to defend themselves, both ending up with abrasions and bruises in the process.
The criminal then got into a fight with another tourist who had seen the attack happening and had jumped in to help.
Speaking to reporters, Denpasar Police Public Relations Head AKP I Ketut Sukadi said that the police have opened up a case and are searching for the man in question.
AKP Sukadi said, “Local residents who knew about the incident immediately came to the crime scene. They took the perpetrator’s motorbike to the local village office.”
“On the other hand, when they found out there was an incident, South Kuta Police officers immediately went to the location to carry out a crime scene investigation and dig up information about the witnesses.”
He added, “The perpetrator is still being chased. Meanwhile, the two victims were being treated at the Bhakti Vedanta Medical Clinic.’
Officers have confirmed that they have traced the criminal via the motorbike’s license plate.
Uluwatu is one of the busiest and fastest growing tourist resorts in Bali.
This kind of crime has been reported more frequently in areas like Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta.
With security teams now doubling down on patrols, tourists should feel safe and comfortable to explore. Tourists who have become victims of a crime in Bali should always report the incident to the police as soon as possible.
