Australian woman Vanessa Louise Crimmins accused of stealing laptops in Bali
Bali police arrested an Australian woman and released shock footage which allegedly shows the broad daylight theft that could see her spend five years behind bars. See the video.
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An Australian woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing two laptops from outside a Balinese supermarket.
Vanessa Louise Crimmins, 45, is accused of taking the laptops and the backpacks they were stored in from outside Popular Deli, a supermarket in North Kuta.
The teacher from Paddington can allegedly be seen on CCTV footage walking past the laptop bags and casually picking up one before doubling back for the second and walking off with them both.
Crimmins has not been formally charged with theft.
However if the charge proceeds and she is convicted, she could face five years in an Indonesian prison.
Badung Police spokesperson I Putu Sukarma said the alleged theft occurred on Wednesday around 9am Bali time.
“The suspect has easily taken the laptops from the sitting area in front of the supermarket,” Sukarma said.
“The suspect has taken two laptops from two bags that have been left a while by the owner in the sitting area.”
Police said the HP laptop and MacBook Air were stolen from 24-year-old Denpasar university student Ni Nyoman Ari Purwaningsih and Jakarta man Ardi Nurcahyadi, 42.
“It was reported that they have left their bag in the sitting area in front of the supermarket on Wednesday, 7.30am Bali time,” Sukarma said.
“They left the bag in sitting area at Popular Deli, and come back at 9am to find out that their bag has gone.
“Based in report to North Kuta Police Station, police have check the scene and immediately undergo investigation by collecting information and checking the CCTV footage.
“We can found out that the perpetrator is a foreign woman.”
Police tracked down Crimmins to her accommodation at Tibubeneng Village in North Kuta where they allegedly found both the laptops.
Crimmins could be charged with theft under Section 362 of the Indonesia Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years jail.
However, a quirk of the Indonesian justice system allows alleged victims can choose to forgive their perpetrators meaning they avoid facing court.
Originally published as Australian woman Vanessa Louise Crimmins accused of stealing laptops in Bali