Australian tourist reports Rp225m gold-chain snatching in Legian

Kuta — A 68-year-old Australian tourist reported having two gold chains, valued at around Rp225 million, snatched from his neck by a motorcycle rider while walking along Werkudara Street in Legian on the evening of Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, according to Denpasar Police and multiple media reports.

The victim, identified by police by the initials RJB, was walking with his wife back to their accommodation after dinner when they passed a man waiting on a motorcycle near a spa on Jalan Werkudara in Legian, Kuta, Badung.

Police say that after the couple had walked roughly 3–4 metres past the rider, the man approached from the victim’s right side and forcibly pulled the gold chains from his neck before speeding away.

Denpasar Police spokesperson Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya said the tourist lost two gold chain necklaces weighing 50 grams and 25 grams respectively, with total losses estimated at Rp225 million.

• Reported loss: about Rp225 million
• Stolen items: two gold chain necklaces
• Combined weight: 75 grams

Motorcyclist wore ride-hailing style jacket

Local reports state that the perpetrator was riding a motorcycle and wore a jacket resembling that of an online ride-hailing service.

In widely shared CCTV footage, the rider can be seen slowing alongside the couple before abruptly leaning over and snatching the jewellery from the victim’s neck, then driving away.

One outlet noted the jacket appeared similar to a Gojek uniform, while the company has reportedly said the licence plate seen in the video was not registered to its platform.

Police have not publicly confirmed whether the rider was connected to any ride-hailing company.

Police review CCTV and witness statements

According to Denpasar Police, the incident occurred at about 20:48 WITA on Aug. 21 in front of a spa on Werkudara Street, Legian.

Adi Saputra Jaya said officers from Kuta district police had visited and examined the crime scene, taken statements from the victim and witnesses, and reviewed CCTV footage.

He added that investigators are continuing to work to identify and locate the suspect, with the case handled by the Criminal Investigation Unit of Kuta Police.

Reports state that the victim and his wife filed a complaint with the local police following the robbery.

Legian street robbery adds to security concerns

The robbery took place in the busy Legian tourism district, a popular area for foreign visitors, including Australians.

CCTV images of the snatching circulated widely on social media and in regional media, prompting renewed attention to opportunistic thefts targeting tourists’ jewellery in Bali.

While local outlets have highlighted this and other recent necklace-snatching cases, they do not provide comprehensive crime statistics for Legian or Bali.

Police and travel advisories have urged visitors to exercise caution when carrying or wearing high-value jewellery in crowded streets and to promptly report any incidents to local authorities.

Sources

• Merdeka.com
• detikBali
• Radar Badung (Jawapos group)
• news.com.au
• VnExpress International
• Qontaktly blog
• Tribun Bali
• The Bali Times