Australian tourists planning a trip to Bali are being advised to remain vigilant following reports of pickpocketing and snatch thefts in several of the island’s busiest tourist destinations.
The warning comes from Samantha, an Australian tour guide and content creator who regularly shares travel information about Bali. In a video uploaded earlier this month, which has attracted more than 250,000 views, she highlighted a recent increase in incidents involving stolen mobile phones and jewellery.
According to a report by PerthNow published on Tuesday (7 July 2026), many of the reported thefts involve offenders riding motorcycles who target tourists walking along busy streets in popular holiday areas. Samantha said incidents have been reported in destinations including Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta and Uluwatu.
Tour Guide Advises Visitors to Take Simple Precautions
@see.it.with.sam Coming to Bali? Watch this… #bali ♬ original sound – See it with Samantha
In her video, Samantha urged travellers to be mindful of their surroundings while enjoying their holiday in Bali.
“If you’re coming to Bali soon, there’s one thing you need to be aware of,” Samantha said.
Despite raising concerns about theft, she stressed that the island remains one of her favourite travel destinations.
“Bali is my favourite place in the world. This island offers so much and there are so many reasons to love it,” she said.
However, she noted that recent cases of phone and jewellery snatching have become increasingly concerning.
“I personally know two people who had their necklaces snatched in Canggu. It’s really bad. Many of my local friends have warned me about this,” Samantha explained.
She encouraged visitors to avoid wearing expensive or highly visible jewellery while walking in public areas and advised travellers to keep mobile phones securely stored rather than holding them while walking. She also recommended keeping valuables out of sight to reduce the risk of opportunistic theft by riders on motorcycles.
