Crimes targeting foreigners decline: Police

The crime rate for foreigners in Bali is down 22.5 percent in 2010, according to the Bali Police.

Only 217 foreigners were the victims of crime in 2010, down from 280 in 2009, Bali Police intelligence and security director Sr. Comr. Ketut Argawa said on Wednesday.

The victims were mostly from Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and the US.

“Types of crime perpetrated against foreigners are varied, ranging from fraud to theft with or without violence,” he said.

Argawa attributed the drop to heightened security at tourist destinations and increased tourist vigilance.

“We have committed to make every effort to protect tourists from crime,” Argawa said.

One of the most effective ways to protect foreigners was by working with consulates in Bali.

“We call on all consulates to advise their citizens to be more careful when in Bali. This method has proven effective to raise their vigilance and in turn decrease the crime rate. We also regularly give updated information to the consulates concerning new modus operandi,” Argawa said. “We will continue to work with the consulates and to increase security at tourist areas,” Argawa said.

Udayana University criminologist Gede Made Suardana said the declining crime rate was due to intensified police monitoring of foreigners in Bali.

“The police have also arrested many criminals and implemented more security measures at tourist destinations,” he said.

Eighty-two foreigners were arrested for crimes in Bali in 2010, down from 86 in 2009, according to police.

Twenty-seven foreigners were arrested for smuggling or other narcotics-related crimes in 2010, down from 23 last year.  

No foreigners have been arrested for pedophilia over the last two years, according to police.

Australian, Dutch, French and German citizens were previously arrested for allegedly targeting children in the island’s poor villages, sparking public concern.

Argawa said there was always the possibility of unreported pedophilia cases given that victims were often afraid or embarrassed to file a report.

“We always call on the public to report when they find something suspicious about foreigners in Bali, including pedophilia.”

Overall the number of reported crime cases was 5,367, down from 5,902 in 2009.