Two Aussies mates had their villa broken into and almost $1000 worth of items stolen while they were out on a day trip in Ubud, Bali.
The two friends, both aged 19, were holidaying in Umalas, east of Seminyak, on Saturday when they came home to find clothes and electronics including Apple AirPods missing.
CCTV footage obtained by the Bali Post shows a man wearing a helmet and grey jacket entering the villa through an unlocked front gate.
He then opens the villa’s front door with force, according to Coconuts Bali.
Another man is seen waiting on a motorcycle nearby while the alleged thief, who also had a backpack, stole from the young men.
Badung Police spokesman Ketut Sudana revealed a total of IDR9 million worth of items were stolen — about $870.
“Identification of the motorbike’s licence plate used by the perpetrator remains pending,” Mr Sudana told reporters on Sunday.
“However, we have gathered pertinent descriptions of the suspects. Our next course of action involves a thorough analysis of the CCTV recordings.”
He said officials would also conduct checks on the footage within the vicinity of the alleged theft scene to further help identify the suspects.
The two friends reported the incident to hotel staff, who then contacted police, after they returned around 5pm noticing several items from their room had been missing.
“Upon receiving the report, the villa staff checked CCTV. In the CCTV footage, two unidentified stocky men entered the villa by prying open the front door. Then the incident was reported to the North Kuta Police,” Mr Sudana said, according to The Bali Sun.
He said Apple Airpods, a Nike backpack and clothing were stolen.
“It didn’t take long for the two perpetrators to immediately leave the crime scene heading east. Both perpetrators were wearing helmets, their faces covered with [balaclavas], and wearing jackets.”
Australian travel insurer, Southern Cross Travel Insurance revealed Indonesia is the second most claimed against country in 2023, just behind USA.
“Common claims such as lost, stolen or damaged phones can put a real dampener on your holiday,” Jo McCauley, SCTI CEO said.
“However, there are a few things people should keep in mind, which could make claiming on your travel insurance easier should it ever happen to you.
“Firstly, lost or stolen items must be reported to the police as soon as possible.
“A written report is often required in order for claims to be paid.
“For any claims relating to a lost or stolen mobile phone or device with phone capabilities, you must block the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number by contacting your service provider and provide proof this has been done.”
She warned Aussies tourists in Indonesia to “take reasonable care with the safety and security of your items”.
“Especially when you’re in public places. If you leave your property unattended in your beach bag while you take a dip and someone takes the opportunity to steal your property, you may find yourself unable to claim for your losses.”
The average cost for a travel insurance policy for a week-long trip to Bali over the Christmas holidays for two adults aged 40 and two young children starts from $87.52 for Medical Only cover or $139.56 for International Comprehensive cover (with SCTI).
This time of year often leads to a spike in thefts due to the amount of tourists on the island and Bali police encourage tourists to reach out to the authorities if they believe they’ve fallen victim to thefts.
The Indonesian government said last Monday it was expecting a more than 100 per cent increase in the number of people travelling nationwide during Christmas and New Year period.
According to the country’s Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, around 107 million people will travel across cities, provinces or islands — or 39.83 per cent of the total national population during the Christmas period.
In May alone, almost 110,000 Australian tourists landed at Denpasar, while that figure increased to 120,000 in August, making Aussies the most frequent international visitors to the island.