Theft of Seven Suitcases Belonging to Thai Tourists at Bromo Sparks Concern Among Business Operators

The theft of seven suitcases belonging to Thai tourists at Bromo has left many shaking their heads in disbelief. The suitcases went missing whilst the vehicle the tourists were travelling in was parked at the Bus Transit Pavilion in Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency, on Sunday 15 February.

The embarrassing incident has triggered concern among tourism business operators in the Mount Bromo area.

Andrey, the owner of a travel agency in the Bromo area, strongly condemned the incident. He said the theft not only harmed the tourists but also tarnished Bromo’s tourism image on the international stage.

“From our side, we deeply regret that the tourism image has been damaged by individuals who claim to be tourism operators but whose behaviour involves stealing guests’ belongings. This incident is strong evidence of the lack of qualified tourism human resources in the Bromo area,” Andrey said on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

According to Andrey, if Bromo truly aspires to become a worthy and professional tourism destination, all tourism operators — including drivers, agents, and local actors — must possess clear legal standing and uphold excellent service standards.

“If we want to be called a proper tourism destination, local operators, drivers, and agents must have proper legal standing and good service. They should not be looking for opportunities to take guests’ belongings. This is extremely serious when it reaches the point of suitcases being stolen,” he added.

He insisted that the case of the seven missing suitcases must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators must be arrested to be held accountable for their actions.

“This case needs to be investigated thoroughly, and the perpetrators must be caught. So that during interrogation it becomes clear whether there was any organised scheme involved. If there was indeed a scheme, then those individuals need to be completely rooted out, imprisoned, and prosecuted,” he said.

The incident also drew serious attention from the Probolinggo Regency administration. Regent Dr Mohammad Haris responded firmly to the incident.

Gus Haris, as he is affectionately known, expressed regret over the theft of the Thai tourists’ suitcases, noting that Mount Bromo remains one of Indonesia’s premier tourism destinations to this day.

“On behalf of myself personally and the Probolinggo Regency Government, I convey my deepest concern over the loss of belongings suffered by the group of Thai tourists in the Bromo area,” Gus Haris said on Monday 16 February.

Mount Bromo, Gus Haris said, is the face of tourism, and every tourist is not merely a guest but a friend who must be collectively looked after. The incident serves as a reminder to all parties that a sense of security is a fundamental part of the tourism experience.

“I call upon all members of the community, tourism operators, security forces, and all stakeholders to strengthen our collective effort in safeguarding the security of our destinations. Tourism will only grow if tourists return home with a sense of safety, comfort, and good stories about Probolinggo,” Gus Haris stated.

“We do not want this incident to become a source of trauma but rather a moment to improve and strengthen the tourism security system at Bromo and all other leading destinations,” he added.

The group of Thai tourists fell victim to theft during their holiday in the Mount Bromo area. Seven suitcases and bags were reported missing from a vehicle parked in front of the Sukapura Pavilion, Wonotoro Village, Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency, on Sunday 15 February.

As a result of the incident, the victims suffered material losses totalling Rp 108,368,200. The stolen items included a red bag containing make-up, clothing, and a wallet with Rp 3,251,046 in cash; a black-and-red suitcase containing a Ricoh GR IV camera valued at Rp 26,550,209, an iPhone 13 Pro, clothing, and a headset; a black suitcase containing an iPad Air 5, a Redmi Note 15, and clothing; as well as a yellow bag, a black bag, a black suitcase, and another bag.

The theft case went viral on social media and attracted public attention. After undergoing examination at the police reporting centre until 22:30 local time, the victims and their group continued their journey to Surabaya.

Probolinggo Police Chief Senior Commissioner M. Wahyudin Latif said his office had made this case a top priority.

“We are prioritising and giving full attention to the theft of seven suitcases belonging to the group of Thai tourists in the parking area en route to the Mount Bromo tourism site, and we ask for the prayers and support of all parties so that we can solve this theft case promptly,” Wahyudin Latif stated on Tuesday 17 February 2026.