A group of three Algerians believed to have engaged in pickpocketing on multiple instances in the greater Kuta area were arrested Monday on Jl. Dewi Sri, Legian.
The men have been identified by Bali Post with their initials and ages: IB, 20, MT, 52, NEIM, 31.
The arrest was triggered after local woman Ni Komang Sintariani, 30, reported to Kuta Police her phone was stolen from her bag at a bakso food stall on Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Kuta on Saturday evening.
Based on the report, police went to the warung to collect statements from witnesses and look through CCTV footage—which is what they say led them to discover three foreigners had been involved.
Police tracked them down to Jl. Dewi Sri and then coordinated with security at restaurants in the area, especially those crowded with tourists to look out for the three.
“Security from Pepe coordinating (with police) shared that there was also a case of a missing bag. Their actions were also recorded on CCTV,” Bali Post quoted an unidentified source as saying.
Warung Pepe is a popular Italian restaurant on Jl. Dewi Sri.
Kuta Police Criminal Investigation Chief Ario Seno Wibisono confirmed the arrest of the three foreign nationals but says police are still investigating.
“But we are still looking into the past and for other evidence,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include the nationalities of the suspected pickpockets as more information has become available since publishing.
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