Top News

The 39-year-old Syrian man was detained on Tuesday after allegedly stealing clothing from a store in North Kuta, Badung Regency, as reported by Jakarta Globe.

The theft was witnessed by the store attendant, who saw the suspect take several items without paying. The attendant alerted nearby residents, who helped chase and detain the suspect until police arrived at the scene.

The incident, captured by the store’s surveillance camera, quickly went viral on social media.

The estimated value of the stolen items is around Rp4 million (US$243).

In a separate case, 49-year-old Shane Lonnie Speirs from the U.S. was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing valuables from several hotels in the popular tourist area of Kuta, Bali Times reported.

According to police, Speirs posed as a hotel guest and loitered near reception areas.

Police revealed that Speirs had no specific targets and acted on opportunity. He had been living in temporary accommodations and frequently moved around. The stolen items were either kept by the suspect or sold to cover his daily expenses.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the suspects will face deportation following the investigation.

Bali welcomed 6.3 million international visitors in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This year it aims to attract 6.5 million tourists.

Bali authorities previously vowed to show no mercy towards misbehaving tourists in order to protect the island’s tourism reputation.