Foreign National Reported to Police Over Alleged Hypnosis Theft at Bangli Grocery Store

A foreign national has been reported to the police for allegedly stealing money using a hypnosis modus operandi at a grocery store in Banjar Serokadan, Abuan Village, Susut Subdistrict, Bangli.

“The incident occurred on Monday, 18 May 2026, at 6.45pm Wita,” said Bangli Police Regional Command’s Public Relations Section Chief, Iptu I Gede Gumiliarta, during an interview with detikBali at his office on Monday (25 May 2026).

The alleged theft began when the victim, Ni Wayan Sariani, was alone managing her grocery store. A foreign national, described as having blonde hair, tall stature, wearing a red T-shirt and long trousers, entered the shop. According to the victim and CCTV footage, the suspect initially bought a few eggs and then requested to exchange two Rp50,000 banknotes for a single Rp100,000 note.

He later asked to exchange money a second time. At that point, the victim claimed she became unaware and opened the cash drawer to retrieve Rp100,000 banknotes. Gumiliarta stated that the foreign national acted alone, took the money from the drawer, and fled to his car parked some distance from the scene. The victim reported that Rp1.2 million was stolen.

The case is still under investigation, with the suspect’s identity remaining unknown despite a week having passed.