Data released by the Public Security Institute of Rio de Janeiro (ISP-RJ) show that pedestrian theft has increased in downtown Rio. In the area covered by the 4th DP (Praça da República), the number of pedestrian thefts rose 153% from January to October this year compared to the same period in 2021. In the first ten months of the year, the 1st DP (Praça Mauá) registered a 267% increase in the same type of crime, while in the 6th DP (Cidade Nova), 231%. The worst situation was in the area of the 7th DP (Santa Teresa): a 317% growth. And, with the highest absolute number of cases in the state (1,033), the 5th PD (Mem de Sá) accounted for an increase of 136%. Together, the five precincts received 3,020 complaints from January through October, nearly a quarter of the state-wide total. The number represents an increase of 183% compared to last year and exceeds that of 2019, in the pre-pandemic. The high in downtown Rio becomes even more expressive if compared to the growth registered throughout the state, which was 28%.
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15/12/2022 – Civil Police arrested a German who pretended to be security at the US Embassy in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, West Zone, for using a false document and illegally carrying a firearm accessory for restricted use. Investigations began when he had a disagreement with the owner of the apartment where he lived. According to the victim, the foreigner threatened her with a gun. During the investigation, officers discovered that he had no ties to the US government. When the German was at the police station to try to return the weapons, he presented a diplomatic license for carrying a weapon and ended up arrested. At his residence, a rifle, 18 magazines and 233 cartridges of various calibers were found.
16/12/2022 – A Chilean woman was arrested for the crime of theft at Shopping Leblon, South Zone. With her there were two purses that were stolen in restaurants in the shopping center. According to the Military Police, she went to the restaurant well dressed, went unnoticed, and stole the belongings. When the person realized it, everything had already been stolen. Mall security informed military police officers that there was a woman in a suspicious attitude, and she was approached when leaving the place.
16/12/2022 – Two men surrendered residents and took belongings from a house in Cosmos, West Zone. According to the police, two women and children were in the residence. The criminals managed to escape. A team from the Campo Grande Battalion was called to verify the robbery of a residence. At the scene, they were informed by the victims that the perpetrators of the robbery had already left the address.
16/12/2022 – Two people were hit by gunfire in Vicente de Carvalho, North Zone of Rio, according to preliminary information from the Military Police. The injured were admitted to the hospital, but there is no information about their health status. The incidents are being investigated.
19/12/2022 – A member of a militia that operates in the west zone of Rio, was arrested in the neighborhood of Guaratiba. According to the Civil Police, a pistol, ammunition and chargers were seized from him. Documents of extortion practiced by the group were also found, including papers relating to charges for clandestine cable TV service. He is part of the group known as Milícia do Zinho.
20/12/2022 – Criminals tried the pix scam on families of people hospitalized with cancer. Three companions, from two networks of private hospitals in Rio, claim that they received calls from criminals who knew information about the patients and tried to deceive the family. Generally, crime happens in a very similar way. A criminal call the hospital room or next of kin and poses as the doctor in charge. The person then informs that an examination raised the suspicion of a disease that needs to be investigated. In the story invented by the criminals, there is always some complication, such as the need to carry out new tests, transfer equipment or pay for medical staff and medicines. The scammer then asks for a pix transaction of high value, ranging from R$ 4,000 to R$ 6,000.
20/12/2022 – A woman was stabbed during an attempted robbery on Ipanema beach, South Zone. According to the police, the victim and a friend were cycling along the shore when they decided to sit on the sands of the beach. On the beach, the couple was approached by two people, who announced the robbery. The victims reacted by refusing to hand over backpacks and cell phones. It was then that the man took a knife from his waist and attacked the young woman. The two criminals were identified and arrested in the Cantagalo community.
21/12/2022 – A luxury car was stolen by criminals in front of the boarding area of Santos Dumont Airport, in downtown Rio. A driver in a BMW vehicle stopped to drop off a passenger, when he was approached by two armed men, who got out of a vehicle parked in front of the Bossa Nova Mall entrance. It is the third robbery with the same characteristics only in December.
22/12/2022 – A retired military police officer was shot on Linha Amarela during an attempted cargo robbery between the neighborhoods of Água Santa and Encantado, North Zone. He was rescued and taken to the hospital. The Military Police reported that the Policing Battalion on Expressways (BPVE) was triggered to verify an occurrence with a firearm. Upon arriving there, the team already found an injured person. The criminals exchanged shots with the police and managed to escape.
22/12/2022 – Armed criminals carried out a mass robbery on Avenida Pastor Martin Luther King Jr in Vicente de Carvalho, in the North Zone. At least five cars were stolen. One of the criminals had a pistol and wore a ninja cap.
22/12/2022 – A man was arrested for robbing an apartment in a luxury condominium in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone. His accomplice is still on the run and would have used the badge of a previous job as a service provider in the condominium to enter the place. Already inside the property, the criminal who is still on the run used the intercom to release the entry of the arrested criminal. They then rang the doorbell of the first property and surrendered the victim with a pistol. Several goods were stolen, and the victims were forced to unlock their cell phones and transfer money to them via PIX. Even the victim’s car was taken, which was used to escape the robbers. The victims were also tied up and locked in the bathrooms.
