Two Teen Suspects in Necklace-Snatching Targeting Foreign Tourists Arrested in Kuta, Bali
Kuta Police in Badung Regency arrested two teenage suspects, aged 17 and 15, on October 31 while they were refueling a motorcycle at a gas station on Jalan Sunset Road. The pair are linked to a series of necklace-snatching incidents targeting foreign tourists, including victims from India and Azerbaijan, though police say they operated independently rather than as partners.
On October 31, 2026, investigators from Kuta Police in Badung Regency arrested two teenage suspects while they were refueling a motorcycle at a gas station on Jalan Sunset Road. The suspects, identified by initials IWPI (alias Lepek, 17) and INK (alias Yoga, 15), were riding together at the time of arrest, though police said the two were not accomplices and had each carried out their own string of robberies.
According to a statement released November 5 by Denpasar Police spokesperson Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, the pair are linked to more than a dozen necklace-snatching cases across Badung Regency. Both hail from the same village, Tianyar in Kubu, Karangasem. Lepek is believed to have carried out seven such robberies, while Yoga is suspected in ten incidents targeting foreign tourists' necklaces.
Lepek is accused of snatching a 3-gram gold necklace from a 60-year-old Indian tourist (identified as AK) on Jalan Padma, Kuta, in early October, with the victim reportedly suffering losses of around Rp 90 million. Yoga, meanwhile, is accused of stealing a gold necklace from an Azerbaijani tourist; an accomplice known as 'Pong' remains at large and is being sought by police.
Police confiscated the motorcycle used in the robberies. Both suspects face charges under Article 479(1) on aggravated theft, which carries a maximum sentence of nine years in prison.
Things to Consider
When walking in Bali, especially around Kuta, avoid wearing necklaces or valuable jewelry in plain sight, or tuck them under clothing. Stay alert to motorcycles approaching from behind, walk closer to buildings rather than the curb, and carry bags or phones on the side away from traffic to reduce snatch-theft risk. If you become a victim, report immediately to the nearest police station (Polsek) and provide photos or serial numbers of stolen items if available to assist the investigation.
Source: detikcom