Two French Tourists Caught Shoplifting in Ubud After Running Out of Money, Both Deported

Police in Gianyar Regency, Bali, held a press conference on September 9, 2026, regarding two shoplifting incidents in Ubud. A 21-year-old French man, identified by the initials NHB, was caught stealing food, drinks, and household items from a supermarket on Jalan Raya Pengosekan in Ubud. According to Gianyar Deputy Police Chief Willa Jully Nendissa, the man had been in Bali for about two months and had run out of money, prompting him to steal items for personal consumption. The theft was discovered by store management the following day and reported to police, who then arrested the man at his lodging. The case did not proceed to formal legal proceedings; instead, the man agreed to compensate the store for all stolen goods, and the matter was settled amicably. He was deported approximately two months ago. In a separate but similar case, a 21-year-old French woman identified as RLBZ was also apprehended for shoplifting at a supermarket in the Peliatan area of Ubud. Her case was likewise resolved through restitution, and she was deported about a month ago. Police characterized both incidents as isolated thefts motivated by financial shortfalls rather than organized criminal activity.