SÃO PAULO SECURITY INCIDENTS – FEBRUARY MONTHLY BULLETIN

01/02/2026 – On Sunday (1^st), a 34-year-old woman was found dead in her home in the Saúde neighborhood, South Zone. Her two-year-old daughter was discovered naked in her crib with signs of physical and sexual abuse, having likely spent two days alone. The primary suspect is her former partner, who has a history of domestic violence and remains at large. [Update] The suspect has been arrested on Monday (2).

02/02/2026 – On Monday (2), a 35-year-old transgender woman was shot and killed at the intersection of Alameda dos Guainumbis and Rua Irerê, in the Planalto Paulista neighborhood. Security footage captured a chase and a conversation between the victim and the suspect, Civil Police officer Paulino Domiciano Antônio, minutes before the shots were fired. Although the officer claimed he was acting in self-defense during an attempted robbery, he did not report the incident at the time and fled the scene in an unmarked police vehicle. He was arrested for intentional homicide after later presenting himself to Internal Affairs. Witnesses reported hearing three gunshots and insults before the shooter drove away.

03/02/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (3), a violent shootout that began in Morumbi and ended at the intersection of Faria Lima and Europa avenues left at least five people injured. The incident started when specialized police units intercepted a gang during a home robbery in the Morumbi neighborhood, resulting in three suspects being shot inside the property. Other gang members fled, leading to a high-speed pursuit that culminated in a second confrontation on Faria Lima Avenue, where two more suspects were wounded.

03/02/2026 – On Tuesday (3), two elderly women were robbed at gunpoint while arriving at a yoga studio in Santo Amaro, South São Paulo. Security footage captured one assailant threatening to shoot a victim and cut off her finger when she struggled to remove her wedding ring. The criminals fled with the ring, a cell phone, and a car, though the vehicle was later recovered by the Military Police.

04/02/2026 – On Wednesday (4), the São Paulo Military Police Internal Affairs department launched an operation to arrest three officers suspected of providing illegal private security for the owners of Transwolff, a bus company linked to the PCC. Stemming from the 2024 “Fim da Linha” investigation, the raid included 16 search warrants and the seizure of cash from the agents involved. The officers allegedly escorted company directors between 2020 and 2024, violating police regulations while protecting a business accused of laundering millions for organized crime.

04/02/2026 – On Wednesday (4), a motorcyclist performing a wheelie struck a 67-year-old woman as she crossed a pedestrian lane on Avenida Yervant Kissajikian in the Americanópolis neighborhood of South São Paulo. The driver fled the scene without providing aid, and the victim was rushed to Hospital Pedreira by emergency services. This incident highlights a grim trend in the city, which saw 1,034 traffic fatalities in 2025, the second-highest number on record, with pedestrian deaths specifically rising by 10%.

04/02/2026 – On Wednesday (4), a 64-year-old man took his two daughters, aged 10 and 14, hostage inside their Brasilândia apartment in North São Paulo after a violent domestic dispute. Armed with a knife, the suspect cut a gas line and threatened to ignite the building, forcing authorities to evacuate the entire complex due to the imminent risk of an explosion. Specialized GATE negotiators and firefighters were called to the scene as the victims reported being strangled and assaulted during the ordeal. After several hours of high-stakes negotiations, the man finally surrendered voluntarily to the police and was arrested without bail on multiple charges, including domestic violence and endangering public safety.

04/02/2026 – On Wednesday (4), a 37-year-old employee was shot and killed at a car dealership on Avenida Marechal Tito in the Vila Curuçá Velha neighborhood, East São Paulo. Witnesses reported that the 40-year-old gunman entered the store, asked for the victim, and returned minutes later to open fire in front of at least three people. Before fleeing the scene, the shooter allegedly shouted that the victim was a “talarico” (slang for someone who sleeps with a friend’s partner), leading police to believe the motive was a suspected affair with the shooter’s wife. The suspect remains at large.

06/02/2026 – On Friday (6), a 20-year-old man was shot during a road rage incident near Marginal Tietê, in Barra Funda, West Zone. After a traffic dispute, occupants of another vehicle pulled alongside his car and opened fire before fleeing. Although he was hit near the spine, the victim remained stable and sought help from police in the city center. The case is being investigated as attempted murder.

07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), police officers disguised as aliens arrested four suspects during Ivete Sangalo’s Carnival block at Ibirapuera, which drew 1.2 million people. Infiltrated DHPP agents caught one man for stealing cell phones and three others for selling adulterated beverages. The undercover operation used the costumes to blend into the crowd, supported by drones and helicopters for aerial surveillance.

07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), 27-year-old Juliana Bassetto died following a swimming lesson at the C4 Gym in the Parque São Lucas neighborhood, suffering from suspected chemical poisoning. Her husband and a teenager remain hospitalized in serious condition after inhaling toxic gases. Police are investigating the facility’s management, which was shut down by sanitary authorities for operating without a license and maintaining precarious safety conditions. Police informed that the gym used to add to the water in a single day the amount of chlorine that is normally added throughout a week period.

07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), a doctor and his lawyer boyfriend were stabbed by three men shortly after exiting the Higienópolis-Mackenzie Metro station in Central São Paulo. The attackers fled without stealing anything, leading the couple and investigators to suspect a homophobic hate crime. The doctor suffered a perforated lung and a severed jugular, requiring emergency surgery, while his partner sustained a head wound.

08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), a massive crowd for Carnival bloco caused chaos and overcrowding on Rua da Consolação in central São Paulo. The surge led foliões to break into a Fire Department station, destroy bus stops, and topple security barriers, causing several injuries and merchandise loss for vendors. Undercover police made multiple arrests for cellphone theft, while the city administration was forced to remove fences to create escape routes for the record-breaking audience.

08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), police officers from the DHPP department disguised as Ghostbusters arrested a man and two women for stealing cell phones during a Carnival bloco on Rua da Consolação, Central São Paulo. The undercover agents caught one woman with 12 phones in her bag and the man with four devices. This operation was part of a broader strategy that led to eight arrests that day, following a similar tactic the previous day where officers dressed as aliens made arrests at Ibirapuera.

08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), police used batons to disperse revelers who jumped the fence of a public school on Rua da Consolação during São Paulo’s pre-Carnival. Video footage shows officers striking individuals even after they had exited the school grounds and reached the sidewalk. The security secretariat defended the intervention due to unauthorized entry into a closed area.

09/02/2026 – On Monday (9), the Civil Police arrested three members of the “Minotauro Gang,” a group specialized in violent robberies of luxury mansions in Morumbi, South Zone. During the raids in Paraisópolis, officers seized firearms and stolen vehicles with cloned plates used to target elderly victims and children. The gang had been under investigation since 2024 for their high-profile attacks in upscale neighborhoods.

09/02/2026 – On Monday (9), a 60-year-old Latam pilot, Sérgio Antônio Lopes, was arrested inside an aircraft cockpit at Congonhas Airport as he prepared for a flight to Rio de Janeiro. Part of “Operation Fasten Your Seatbelts,” the pilot is accused of running a child sexual abuse network for eight years, using forged documents to take minors to motels. A 55-year-old woman was also arrested for allegedly pimping her own granddaughters to the pilot. Police carried out eight search warrants in São Paulo and Guararema, while Latam stated it is cooperating with the investigation.

10/02/2026 – On Tuesday (10), the São Paulo Civil Police submitted a technical report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office detailing severe moderation failures on digital platforms like Discord. The document, produced by the Digital Observation Nucleus (NOAD), highlighted that these gaps allowed crimes against minors—such as sexual violence and self-harm—to be broadcast live without immediate intervention. While NOAD has successfully rescued nearly 360 children through 24-hour monitoring and undercover operations, officials emphasized that platforms must be held more accountable for their delayed response in deleting illegal servers and identifying criminals.

11/02/2026 – On Wednesday (11), a man was arrested in a BYD dealer in the Socorro neighborhood, South Zone, for operating a counterfeit police vehicle on Avenida das Nações Unidas. Driving a BYD Song Plus equipped with emergency lights, the suspect was caught traveling against traffic in a bus lane. When confronted, he presented a badge and claimed to be a Civil Police investigator assigned to the Government Palace; however, a background check confirmed he was not an officer.

12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo authorities removed two investigators from office for allegedly accepting R$ 1.5 million in bribes to stop an international drug trafficking probe. Evidence from seized phones indicates the pair used restricted systems to leak data and negotiated luxury items with criminal organizations. The court also froze their business activities and banned their use of messaging apps during the ongoing corruption and influence peddling investigation.

12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo authorities launched a joint operation against a Chinese criminal organization linked to the PCC for allegedly laundering R$ 1.1 billion through electronics sales. The group used shell companies and criminal “front men” to process payments and hide high-value assets over a seven-month period. Police executed three arrest warrants and 20 search warrants across São Paulo and Santa Catarina to dismantle the multi-state scheme.

12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo police arrested union leader Antônio “Preguinho” Agripino for leading a protest that paralyzed the Parque Dom Pedro II Terminal, in Central São Paulo. The demonstration, linked to a bitter dispute over the SindMotoristas election, involved deflating bus tires and stealing vehicle keys, affecting 52 transit lines. Preguinho now faces charges of theft, criminal association, and endangering public transport. Both city officials and the union leadership officially condemned the acts as vandalism intended to disrupt the upcoming March vote.

12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), a video captured Military Police officers surrounding and assaulting an unarmed water vendor near the Brás station in East São Paulo. Witnesses reported that the vendor, who works informally, was shoved and struck with a nightstick after attempting to retrieve his sandals following a brief chase to avoid having his goods seized. The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat stated that the incident is under investigation to identify the officers involved and hold them accountable for any misconduct.

14/02/2026 – On Saturday (14), major street blocks like Tarado Ni Você and Minhoqueens drew thousands to central São Paulo, overwhelming the city’s infrastructure and turning streets into open-air bathrooms. Despite the presence of portable toilets and police, overcrowding and restrictive fencing in Praça da República led many to urinate on walls and barriers. While the festivities celebrated Brazilian cinema and Caetano Veloso, the experience was marred by extreme heat and severe difficulty in moving through the massive crowds.

14/02/2026 – On Saturday (14), undercover civil police officers dressed as Scooby-Doo and Daphne arrested three suspects for stealing cellphones during a Carnival block in central São Paulo. The agents, part of a specialized homicide unit (DHPP), infiltrated the crowd and caught a trio with eight stolen devices hidden in a pouch. This unconventional strategy is part of a broader security campaign that has already led to 27 arrests this season, following a similar pre-Carnival operation where officers disguised as Ghostbusters dismantled another theft ring.

14/02/2026 – On Saturday (14), the Military Police detained nine people, including five minors, for stealing cellphones during Carnival celebrations near Ibirapuera Park, in Vila Mariana. The first group, consisting of three men and one woman, was intercepted on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral after city officials flagged their suspicious activity to the police command center. Additionally, five minors were caught with five stolen devices following a brief chase within the event area; all suspects were unable to prove ownership of the phones.

14/02/2026 – On Saturday (14), a 38-year-old Russian national was arrested in Barra Funda, São Paulo, for sexual harassment after being caught filming and talking to a 6-year-old girl without authorization. The victim’s mother alerted the Military Police, who found footage of the child on the suspect’s phone, along with images and documents of other young girls. Civil Police have seized his computer and camera from a nearby hotel and are now working with the Federal Police to investigate potential links to international pedophilia networks.

15-16/02/2026 – Continuing the trend of undercover operations, Civil Police officers dressed as Gru and Minions arrested four suspects during Carnival blocks in central São Paulo between Sunday (15) and Monday (16). In the República and Santa Cecília neighborhoods, three women were caught with stolen phones (one carrying 10 devices) while another man was arrested for drug trafficking at Ibirapuera Park with a variety of narcotics and a card machine. These themed operations have now led to a total of 47 arrests and over 70 recovered cellphones since the start of the festivities.

16/02/2026 – On Monday (16), thieves stole a 450 kg safe containing R$ 1 million in gold and diamonds from a luxury jewelry store in Alameda dos Maracatins, Moema, South São Paulo. The suspects, who had scouted the 12th-floor location days earlier, disabled security cameras before hauling the half-ton safe out through the basement in a white car. Police are investigating how the uninsured vault was moved and whether the group utilized specialized tools to bypass the building’s limited holiday security.

16/02/2026 – On Monday (16), a 16-year-old boy died after being shot while handling a firearm with a friend in Rua Cittadella, Jardim Ângela, South São Paulo. The incident occurred in the garage of the friend’s grandmother, after which the other 16-year-old fled the scene by car with his father.

17/02/2026 – On Tuesday (17), a 53-year-old school inspector was arrested in São Paulo for allegedly “selling” her own granddaughters to an airline pilot for sexual abuse and the production of child pornography. The investigation, led by the Pedophilia Repression Division, indicates the grandmother facilitated and negotiated these encounters for at least five years, involving victims as young as 10 years old. The pilot, arrested at Congonhas Airport, admitted to the crimes and confessed to using adult documents to check the minors into motels. Authorities believe there may be more victims in other states, while the grandmother faces charges of human trafficking and child prostitution.

17/02/2026 – On Tuesday evening (17), the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the “Vai Quem Qué” block in Butantã, West São Paulo. While the organizers claim the event followed official hours and the conflict began when revelers sought shelter from heavy rain, the City Secretariat of Urban Security reported that officers faced resistance and had objects thrown at them. The intervention left two guards injured and resulted in reports of a cleaning worker fainting from the gas and a block member being assaulted by agents.

18/02/2026 – On Wednesday (18), criminals intercepted and burned two buses on Avenida Yervant Kissajikian in the Cidade Ademar neighborhood, South São Paulo. This attack followed a similar incident the previous night on Avenida Guarapiranga, where an unmanned burning bus crashed into a power pole. Although authorities are investigating a possible link between these acts of violence and a recent fatal police confrontation, no official connection has been confirmed. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks, but local transport and power supplies were significantly disrupted.

18/02/2026 – On Wednesday (18), Military Police soldier Gisele Alves Santana, 32, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in her apartment, in the Brás neighborhood, Central São Paulo. While her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Geraldo Leite Rosa Neto, claims she took her own life after he proposed a divorce, Civil Police are investigating the case as a “suspicious death” due to conflicting reports. Gisele’s mother alleges the officer was abusive and had previously threatened self-harm to manipulate her daughter. Forensic experts are currently analyzing the weapon and bullet trajectory to determine if the death was a suicide or a homicide.

19/02/2026 – On Thursday (19), a security camera captured a man attempting to set fire to a woman experiencing homelessness in Grajaú, South Zone. The unidentified suspect approached the victim on Major Lúcio Dias Ramos Street and lit a fire using a lighter on bags of material surrounding her. The woman, approximately 40 years old, managed to fill a bucket with water and extinguish the flames before sustaining any injuries.

19/02/2026 – On Thursday (19), a shootout occurred in the Paraisópolis community in São Paulo’s South Zone during a Military Police investigation into reports of weapons and drugs. Upon arriving at the scene, officers were reportedly met with gunfire, though the police confirmed that no one was injured in the exchange. Two individuals were detained, and one firearm was seized during the operation.

19/02/2026 – On Thursday (19), a dismembered body was discovered inside a travel bag in a stream along the Estrada Ecoturística in Parelheiros, South Zone of São Paulo. Construction workers alerted the Metropolitan Civil Guard after noticing a strong odor coming from the luggage. Forensic teams were deployed to the scene to preserve evidence and identify the victim, who was later confirmed to be a 35-year-old woman with a prior criminal record.

19/02/2026 – On Thursday (19), the São Paulo Public Ministry denounced influencer and Gaviões da Fiel muse Natacha Horana for money laundering linked to the PCC crime faction. One week after her Carnival parade, she stands accused of using criminal funds from her ex-boyfriend, PCC gang leader “Colorido”, to hide the ownership of a R$ 320,000 Mercedes-Benz and another property. Prosecutors highlight that Horana moved R$ 15 million between 2014 and 2024, amounts deemed incompatible with her earnings, while her defense maintains she is being unjustly targeted solely for a past romantic relationship.

19/02/2026 – On Thursday (19), a female São Paulo Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) officer filed a police report against her direct supervisor for verbal abuse and threats while on duty in the Brás district, Central São Paulo. The agent stated that her superior humiliated her with insults and threatened physical violence in front of colleagues near the “Feira da Madrugada”. In response, the City of São Paulo immediately removed the supervisor from his unit and opened an internal investigation, reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with public administration ethics.

21/02/2026 – On Saturday morning (21), a man was arrested on the Marginal Tietê in the Água Branca neighborhood, North São Paulo, after firing several shots from his vehicle. When approached by the Traffic Policing Command (CPTran) near the Júlio de Mesquita Neto Bridge, the suspect falsely identified himself as a police officer. During the search of his vehicle, officers found five spent casings and a 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off hidden on the driver’s side floor.

21/02/2026 – On Saturday night (21), a 38-year-old businessman driving a Porsche ran over an armed robber on Avenida República do Líbano in the Moema district after being stripped of his Rolex and gold jewelry. The driver pursued the criminal, dragging the thief’s stolen motorcycle for 100 meters until the suspect fell. A retired police officer passing by apprehended the 32-year-old assailant while his accomplice escaped; the stolen luxury items were recovered, and a revolver with a filed-off serial number was seized.

21/02/2026 – On Saturday night (21), an intruder broke into a fifth-floor luxury apartment in Vila Olímpia, São Paulo, after reportedly scaling the building’s balconies. The man had already entered another unit on the second floor prior to this intrusion. As he stepped inside the residence, he was confronted by a 3-kg Yorkshire Terrier whose persistent barking alerted the owner. Startled by the small dog’s reaction, the burglar immediately fled the scene without stealing any items.

22/02/2026 – On Sunday (22), Military Police arrested in the act two women in the Ibirapuera neighborhood, South São Paulo, for allegedly selling marijuana-infused edibles, known as “brisadeiros”, during post-Carnival megablocos. Officers seized 24 drugged brownies, three marijuana cigarettes, and R$ 169 in cash.

22/02/2026 – On Sunday (22), a 26-year-old Portuguese driver under the influence of alcohol struck and killed an off-duty Military Police officer in the Ponte Rasa neighborhood, East São Paulo. Security footage shows the driver turning against traffic into Rua Itamarati de Minas, colliding with the motorcycle of Corporal Diego Richard Ferreira de Souza, who was returning from work. Although a breathalyzer test was confirmed, and witnesses initially claimed the driver attempted to flee, the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) stated he provided assistance and was released after questioning. Reports indicate the driver was scheduled to return to Portugal the same day.

22/02/2026 – On Sunday (22), a 34-year-old advertising professional was assaulted at a bar in the Bixiga neighborhood of Bela Vista, Central São Paulo, after asking the owner for a cigarette, an act his wife interpreted as flirting. The victim reported being knocked down and beaten by the merchant and two other women, resulting in facial injuries, while the business owner claims she acted in self-defense against insults.

22/02/2026 – On Sunday (22), a couple was assaulted at Ibirapuera Park following a dispute over park rules at the dog run. The conflict began when a man entered the area reserved for small pets with a large dog, reportedly a Pitbull; when the couple picked up their small dogs out of caution, the man began mocking them before physically attacking both victims. The park’s administrator expressed regret and provided surveillance footage to the police, while animal rights activists have called for stricter enforcement and better separation between large and small dog areas.

23/02/2026 – In the early hours of Monday (23), a driver identifying himself as a court clerk for the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) crashed into a traffic light pole in the Bela Vista neighborhood, central São Paulo. The accident occurred at the intersection of Paulista and Brigadeiro Luís Antônio avenues following a high-speed police chase sparked when the driver fled a breathalyzer checkpoint (Lei Seca). Showing clear signs of intoxication, the man resisted arrest.

23/02/2026 – On Monday (23), the São Paulo Civil Police arrested two men for attempting to extort R$ 325,000 from the owner of one of Brazil’s largest private security firms. The suspects allegedly threatened to report the victim for tax evasion and harassed his family via social media, even attempting to enter a luxury condominium in Bragança Paulista, near Campinas, under false pretenses. Both detainees have significant criminal records, including a prior 16-year sentence for kidnapping in one case, while a third suspect remains at large.

23/02/2026 – On Monday (23), 22-year-old Priscila Versão was killed in a suspected femicide in the Brasilândia neighborhood, North São Paulo. Her partner, 35-year-old driver Deivit Bezerra Pereira, was arrested after bringing her lifeless body to a hospital with visible signs of physical assault, bruising, and clothes smelling of gasoline. Priscila, who leaves behind three young children, was a friend of a woman who died in a high-profile incident last December after being dragged by a car on the Marginal Tietê. The suspect allegedly threatened to set himself on fire at the hospital before being detained by authorities.

23/02/2026 – On February 23, 2026, an 18-year-old woman was the victim of a violent attempted femicide on Rua Carolina Brant in Guaianases, East São Paulo, where she was stabbed in the middle of the street by her former partner. The attack was captured by security cameras, and the victim was rushed to the hospital, where she is now out of danger. The perpetrator, a 37-year-old man has a history of domestic violence.

24/02/2026 – On Tuesday (24), the São Paulo Civil Police arrested ten people during “Operation End of the Fable”, targeting a criminal organization specialized in digital scams and money laundering. The operation, spanning São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Brasília, executed 120 search warrants and 53 temporary arrest warrants, including one against funk singer MC Negão. Authorities blocked 86 bank accounts with potential holdings of up to R$ 100 million each and seized 36 properties used in schemes such as the “ghost hand” scam and PIX fraud. The investigation aims to recover assets diverted through shell companies to compensate thousands of victims across Brazil.

24/02/2026 – On Tuesday night (24), five armed men, one reportedly carrying a rifle, robbed a supermarket in the Moema neighborhood. The criminals gained entry by posing as delivery personnel after the store had closed, taking eight employees hostage during the raid. Although the alarm eventually scared the group off, leading them to abandon some loot, they successfully fled with alcohol, meat, cigarettes, and two cell phones. No injuries were reported, and the suspects remain at large.

25/02/2026 – On Wednesday (25), São Paulo Civil Police launched “Operation Cilindrada”, arresting at least 17 suspects involved in a high-end motorcycle theft ring. The gang targeted motorcyclists on streets and highways to dismantle the bikes and resell parts in local shops. Over 180 officers executed 27 arrest warrants and 36 search warrants, seizing stolen motorcycles, helmets, a vehicle, and R$ 30,000 in cash.

26/02/2026 – On Thursday (26), Civil Police arrested two men suspected of masterminding a deadly ambush that claimed the life of 20-year-old student Beatriz Munhos last November. The suspects, aged 22 and 26, allegedly used fake social media profiles to lure sellers of high-value goods into robberies. Munhos was shot in the head in front of her father and boyfriend during a setup involving the sale of a R$ 27,000 drone; these new arrests follow the previous capture of the two men who physically carried out the attack.

26/02/2026 – On Thursday (26), a couple in a ride-share vehicle survived a “window-smashing” robbery attempt near the Municipal Market in central São Paulo. The incident occurred on Avenida do Estado when a criminal shattered the rear window to grab a passenger’s phone. The victim managed to hold onto the device, and the attacker fled empty-handed. Dashcam footage of the assault has since gone viral, highlighting a frequent crime trend in that specific area.

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