A British couple has been robbed in the tourist hotspot Jalan Padma Utara in Legian, police said, in which they reported the loss of jewelry valued at IDR570 million (US$36,319).
The incident allegedly occurred on Nov. 7 at approximately 9pm. Robert Kirwin, a 41-year-old jewelry trader, reported to the Kuta Police the loss of several pieces of jewelry, including men’s and women’s gold necklaces and four women’s gold rings.
According to Kirwin, he and his wife, Rebecca Hollis, were walking back to their villa after dinner when two suspected robbers on a motorcycle approached them. The perpetrators tried to snatch a bag that Hollis was carrying. Despite her best efforts, the couple was forced to comply when one of the perpetrators brandished an object believed to be a knife.
The alleged perpetrators then demanded specific jewelry items, and feeling threatened the couple handed over the requested items, totaling an estimated IDR570 million.
Kuta Police Chief Yogie Pramagita confirmed the initiation of an investigation into the robbery. A crime scene analysis has been conducted, although the efforts have not yielded results due to a lack of witnesses.
“We are conducting an investigation. We have conducted a crime scene analysis. However, witnesses are still minimal. Because at that time, at the scene, there were no witnesses. No one saw it,” stated Yogie at the Kuta Police headquarters over the weekend.
Responding to the incident, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno assured the public that Bali remains a safe destination, despite such isolated incidents.
“Bali remains safe; there should be no doubt,” he emphasized during his weekly press briefing yesterday in Jakarta.
Ketut Yadnya Winarta, a top official with Bali Tourism Agency, echoed this sentiment, affirming that Bali is still a secure destination for tourists.
“This incident does not mean Bali is no longer safe. We can say that, in general, Bali is still safe,” he said separately in an official statement.
“Regarding the news of a robbery against tourists, the police in Bali are currently investigating. If it is true, hopefully, the perpetrators can be caught soon,” he added.
