Aussie tourists robbed in Bali but the thieves aren’t who you’d think
Heaps of Australians holidaying in Bali are making insurance claims because of these cheeky monkeys.
Claims for lost, stolen or damaged belongings were the most common claim for people travelling to Indonesia last year, according to Cover-More insurance. But people weren't the only culprits; animals were too.
Holiday hotspots like Bali are home to heaps of thieving monkeys who are known to love shiny and reflective objects like phones, sunglasses and watches.
Cover-More said that one of its customers reported that they were relaxing by the pool at a Bali resort, only to have their $535 sunglasses stolen by a monkey. In another case, a Cover-More customer was robbed by a gang of monkeys while visiting the Monkey Temple in Ubud. They lost their watch in the process. Another woman was robbed blind - her prescription glasses were stolen by a monkey while she walked through the Ubud Monkey Forest.
It might seem stranger than fiction, but after all, that's what travel insurance is there for; it protects against the unexpected, no matter how bizarre. Besides simply avoiding monkeys and taking out a policy that covers you for lost, stolen or damaged belongings, there are lots of ways you can stay safe from theft when travelling to Bali
- Pay attention to your surroundings (especially in the monkey temples) and keep your bags closed and shiny valuables out of sight.
- Don't leave your possessions unattended in public places. You're not only inviting theft (by human and non-human culprits) but your insurer probably won't cover you for loss or theft in these cases.
- Report the theft to local police. Whenever you make a claim, you'll need to have a police report as supporting evidence, so make sure you report any theft to the police as soon as possible, no matter how bizarre the theft might be.
About how to stay safe in Bali
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