BADUNG, Bali – Bali police are investigating an alleged theft involving two foreign nationals after surveillance footage appeared to show one of the suspects deliberately repositioning a CCTV camera moments before cash disappeared from a pharmacy in Badung.
The incident, which has attracted widespread attention on Indonesian social media, occurred on the evening of June 28 at a pharmacy in Kapal Village, Mengwi District, a growing residential area west of Denpasar.
According to police, the suspects, a man and a woman believed to be foreign visitors, entered the pharmacy posing as customers before allegedly carrying out a distraction designed to divert staff attention.
Security footage circulating online shows the man approaching the cashier’s desk, where he reportedly asked permission to use a computer, claiming he needed a translation tool because he was struggling to communicate in English.
At nearly the same time, the woman asked to use the restroom. While walking through the store, she was seen reaching toward a surveillance camera overlooking the cashier area and shifting its direction away from the cash register.
A pharmacy employee noticed the unusual movement and immediately returned the camera to its original position.
After several more minutes inside the store, the pair left without raising further suspicion.
Cash Missing After Closing
The alleged theft was only discovered later that evening.
At around 10 p.m., employees began counting the day’s sales before closing the pharmacy and found that Rp700,000 (approximately US$43) kept inside the cashier drawer had disappeared.
The pharmacy owner was contacted immediately, and a formal police report was filed the following day.
Police Reviewing CCTV Footage
Police spokesperson Aiptu Ni Nyoman Ayu Inastuti confirmed officers have inspected the scene, interviewed witnesses, and collected CCTV footage from both the pharmacy and nearby locations as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities said the two foreign nationals initially claimed they were looking to purchase medicine but had difficulty communicating with staff. Investigators are continuing efforts to establish their identities and movements after leaving the pharmacy.
No arrests have been announced.
Reminder for Businesses Serving Tourists
The case has renewed discussion among businesses in Bali’s tourism areas about distraction thefts, where one person engages employees while another attempts to access cash or valuables.
Police have not suggested that such crimes are widespread but continue to encourage businesses to keep cash secure, remain alert to unusual behavior, and ensure surveillance systems remain unobstructed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
