Good to see Police in Bali remaining pro-active in the protection of tourists. From Jakarta Globe on-line:
Bali Police Arrest Three Teen Bag Snatchers In Kuta
Bali Police have arrested a group of teenage bag snatchers who were targeting foreign visitors on the popular tourist island.
"There were at least 10 foreign tourists who were victims," Badung Police spokesman Comr. I Gusti Agung Sasih said on Monday.
The alleged thieves were identified as Gading, 16, Alit, 16 and Uuk, 18.
The gang's last victim was an Australian tourist, Yvonne Milton. Her bag was snatched in front of Huu Bar in Kerobokan on January 14. In her police report, she said the perpetrators were riding a motorbike. Yvonne lost a digital camera, a cellular phone and Rp 900,000 ($96).
Following the clues obtained from processing the crime scene, police managed to arrest Gading in his kost, or boarding house, on Jalan Mataram, Kuta, before arresting Uuk and Alit at a billiard bar in Kuta. Police said they were still searching for three other members of the gang, named Pikal, Buda and Jati.
"The number of victims will possibly increase because we are still developing the case," Sasih said.
The perpetrators allegedly carried out their crimes by riding a motorbike in pairs. They would look for potential victims in the Kuta area to snatch their bags. After a successful operation, they would sell the stolen goods to Jati.
"We used the money to pay for the motorbike credit, buy clothes and party," Gading told police during questioning.
Sasih said that police had confiscated three motorbikes, some clothing items and Rp 90,000 from the suspects.
"The perpetrators will be charged under Chapter 365 of the Criminal Code on theft with violence, which carries a maximum punishment of nine years," he said.
Last weekend, Denpasar Police also shot and arrested five thieves whose victims were foreigners. The criminals, who all came from Palembang, South Sumatra, robbed seven houses owned by foreigners within three days.