Visitors to the Água Branca Park, in western São Paulo, have been leaving their cell phones at home during walks after reports of thefts in the area. On Saturday (10/01), a man suffered a broken arm after being pushed and having a chain stolen during a run. He had to undergo surgery, with a plate and screws inserted. The case is being investigated by the 23rd Police District (Perdizes).
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Without Cell Phones
Despite the concessionaire Reserva Parques, which manages the site, stating that the incident was isolated, visitors report changes in their habits due to fear. Four people confirmed they were without their cell phones at that moment as a safety measure. A 76-year-old retiree, who visits the park almost daily, said that since the end of last year she only brings water and her identification document. A group of nannies also said they have stopped carrying cell phones during walks with babies.
Young People in Groups
According to visitors, the perpetrators are young people acting in groups. They allegedly take advantage of the low walls separating the park from Francisco Matarazzo Avenue to enter the site. The group also targets drivers and pedestrians in the surrounding area along the avenue.
Cameras
In response, the concessionaire said it has increased the number of surveillance cameras by more than 60% in recent months. The park currently has 44 devices. The company also stated that it expanded its security team by 20% and adopted new security protocols.
Reinforced Policing
In a statement, the State Public Security Secretariat said policing has been reinforced in the region and that it maintains permanent, integrated actions in the area. “As a result of this work, from January to November 2025, robberies and thefts in general decreased by 10.61% and 12.25%, respectively, in the area covered by the 23rd Police District (Perdizes), responsible for the region.” According to department data, from January to November 2025 there were about 8,800 thefts in the precinct’s jurisdiction, compared with 10,000 the previous year. In addition to the park, the area includes train and subway stations and Allianz Parque, spaces with high pedestrian traffic. Robberies, meanwhile, fell from 2,500 in 2024 to 2,300 last year.
Analysis:
The situation at Água Branca Park illustrates how perceptions of insecurity can reshape everyday behavior even when official data points to broader crime reductions in the surrounding area. The fact that regular visitors are deliberately leaving cell phones at home signals a breakdown in the sense of safety that public spaces depend on to function as areas of leisure and social interaction. Incidents involving physical violence, such as the assault on a runner, tend to have a disproportionate psychological impact, amplifying fear and spreading caution well beyond the immediate victim.
The response, combining increased camera coverage, expanded private security, and reinforced police patrols, moves in the right direction, but its effectiveness will depend on integration rather than scale alone. Surveillance technology and personnel can deter some offenses, yet they must be paired with environmental adjustments, better access control, and rapid response protocols to prevent the displacement of crime to nearby areas.
Sources: A Folha de SP.
