DENPASAR, Bali — Bali police are searching for four foreign tourists accused of carrying out a distraction theft inside a popular shopping mall in Denpasar, after CCTV footage allegedly captured the group stealing a watch from a retail store.
The incident took place at The Watch Co outlet inside Living World Mall in North Denpasar and has since attracted widespread attention after footage of the alleged theft circulated on social media.
According to a police report, the incident was first discovered on June 15 by a 23-year-old store employee identified only as Z.
Investigators say the group, consisting of two men and two women, entered the store posing as customers. While the two women reportedly engaged the employee in conversation and asked about product prices in U.S. dollars, the two men allegedly took advantage of the distraction.
The missing item was later identified as a Japanese-made Zeko SSB 446P1 watch valued at approximately Rp 5.8 million (around US$360).
What makes the case unusual is that the theft was not immediately detected.
The watch’s disappearance only came to light the following day during a routine inventory check conducted by the store owner. After reviewing CCTV footage, staff allegedly observed one of the male visitors taking the watch before leaving the premises with the rest of the group.
Police describe the method as a classic distraction technique frequently used in retail theft cases around the world, where one group member occupies staff while another targets merchandise.
The case was subsequently reported to the North Denpasar Police, who have launched a criminal investigation.
Authorities confirmed that detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit have already identified the suspected perpetrators and are actively attempting to locate them.
While police have not publicly disclosed the suspects’ identities or nationalities, investigators say efforts to track and apprehend the group are ongoing.
The incident serves as a reminder for retailers in Bali’s increasingly busy shopping centers to remain vigilant against distraction-based theft, particularly in areas frequented by international visitors.
For now, the watch remains missing, but investigators hope the CCTV footage will help lead them to the four individuals believed to be behind the alleged theft.