SUMMARY
The state of Rio de Janeiro has seen a significant rise in property crimes, leading to the dismissal of Civil Police Secretary Marcus Amim amid growing public security concerns. Data from the Public Security Institute (ISP) shows notable increases in street robberies, vehicle thefts, and cell phone thefts between January and July 2024, particularly in the South Zone, especially in neighborhoods like Botafogo and Flamengo. Still, while home burglaries have decreased across the state, areas like Leblon are experiencing more residential thefts. Cell phone thefts are also rising in wealthier neighborhoods, driven by technology and a growing black market for stolen goods. With crime rates climbing, it is vital for both residents and visitors to take measures to reduce exposure to risks and mitigate their potential impact while in the city.
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State of Rio de Janeiro
On 2 September, Rio de Janeiro Governor Cláudio Castro dismissed the Secretary of the Civil Police, Marcus Amim, citing a significant increase in offenses in the state. The dismissal took place during the election period, shortly after data was released showing a rise in crime.
According to the Public Security Institute (ISP), property crime rates increased between January and July of this year compared to the same period of last year. Crimes such as street robberies, vehicle thefts, and cell phone robberies saw significant increases of 10.53%, 23.32%, and 39.49%, respectively, underscoring the rise in property-related crimes across the state. In contrast, home burglaries showed a significant drop of 20.79% during the same period, marking the only indicator that improved.
These concerns over rising crime rates are further exacerbated by a surge in violent robberies across the Greater Rio de Janeiro area. A report from Instituto Fogo Cruzado highlights a 17% increase in armed robberies involving gunshot victims in the Greater Rio area between 1 January and 23 August 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. This year, 134 robbery incidents resulted in 142 people being shot, leading to 58 deaths and 84 injuries. The North Zone saw the highest concentration of these incidents, accounting for 43% of the total, including the deaths of a federal police officer and a young store clerk. The West Zone and Baixada Fluminense followed, with 25 and 21 cases, respectively. Among those shot, 27 were off-duty public security agents, nine of whom were killed. The remaining cases include Metropolitan East, with 16 incidents resulting in nine deaths and 13 injuries; Downtown Rio, with nine attempts leading to four deaths and four injuries; and the South Zone, with five cases resulting in three deaths and three injuries.
South Zone
A security camera captured the moment when a couple was approached by criminals on a motorcycle while walking along Rua Miguel de Lemos, in Copacabana, on Monday, 16 September. The video shows one of the robbers violently approaching the woman and biting her finger to remove a ring. In addition to this case, which gained attention due to the criminal’s unusual behavior, three other robberies were caught on camera in the same region last week. Street robberies, a key indicator for planning public security actions, have surged in Rio’s South Zone this year between January and August, according to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP).
The area covered by the 9th Police Precinct (Catete), which also serves Flamengo and Glória, is among the ten districts with the highest number of street robberies in the state from January to August. There were 1,141 reported incidents, a 43.59% increase compared to the same period last year. This rise in street robberies, along with other property crimes, extends to other precincts in the South Zone. The 10th Police Precinct (Botafogo) recorded the second highest number of street robberies in the region during the first eight months of the year, with 839 incidents, marking a 71% increase compared to the same period last year. The 15th Police Precinct (Gávea) also saw a significant rise, with 264 cases during the same period, a 65% increase.
In contrast, the 12th and 13th Police Precincts, which cover the neighborhoods of Copacabana and Leme, registered 517 incidents, showing a 36% decrease. The 14th Police Precinct (Leblon and Ipanema) also experienced a slight decline, with 297 incidents, representing a 5% decrease.
Cell Phones
Cell phone theft is the most common type of crime among street robberies. According to specialists from the Violence Analysis Laboratory at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), there has been a noticeable return to pre-pandemic levels of this crime. The “street robbery” indicator includes robberies of cell phones, pedestrians, and those occurring on public transportation.
Cell phone theft has increased statewide, particularly in wealthier areas with a higher concentration of technology, such as Rio’s South Zone. Historically, the neighborhoods of Flamengo and Botafogo, under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Battalion of the Military Police, have been the most affected by street robberies in the South Zone, with Botafogo standing out as a prime target due to its status as a transit area.
Between January and August 2024, cell phone robberies in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone showed significant variations, with sharp increases in some areas and decreases in others, according to data from the Integrated Public Security Circumscriptions (CISPs).
In the CISP 9 area, which includes the neighborhoods of Catete, Flamengo, and Laranjeiras, cell phone robbery cases rose from 1.084 during the first eight months of 2023 to 1.214 during the same period of 2024, representing an increase of 12%. In the CISP 10 area, covering Botafogo, the rise was even more pronounced, with cases jumping from 769 in the first eight months of 2023 to 929 in 2024, a 21% surge. The Copacabana region, served by CISPs 12 and 13, saw a 7% increase in cell phone robberies, with 1703 cases recorded in 2023 compared to 1825 in 2024.
On the other hand, in Ipanema and Leblon, the CISP 14 area, there was a 2% decrease, with 1207 incidents in 2023 falling to 1176 in 2024 during the same period.
In the CISP 15 area, which includes the neighborhoods of Gávea, Jardim Botânico, Lagoa, São Conrado, and Vidigal, there was a 17% increase, with cases jumping from 520 in 2023 to 606 in 2024. These numbers highlight a varied landscape in the South Zone, with some areas facing a significant rise in crimes while others experience notable decreases.
During the pandemic, there was a significant drop in these crimes. However, with the introduction of technologies like digital banking and Pix, the previously suppressed trend has started to climb again. Additionally, a black market for stolen goods and unlocking devices has emerged, and criminals are becoming more sophisticated in their methods.
Home Burglary
Recent episodes of home invasions in the South and West Zones reflect the increase in home burglaries in the city of Rio de Janeiro. According to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP), there was a 15.18% increase in this type of crime in the capital in 2024. From January to August of this year, 220 home invasions were recorded, compared to 191 in the same period in 2023. Some regions in the South Zone saw the number of cases almost double.
On the other hand, the overall trend in the state shows the opposite. Home invasions across Rio de Janeiro decreased by almost 21% in the first eight months of 2024. The ISP recorded 480 incidents, down from 606 in the same period in 2023.
These data reveal growing concerns among residents of the most targeted areas, such as the South Zone, which, despite the general reduction in the state, continues to face increases in property-related crimes.
Last weekend, on Avenida Delfim Moreira, one of the city’s most upscale addresses in Leblon, a couple was caught on security cameras in a luxury building during a robbery. The two are suspected of being part of another gang, originally from Minas Gerais and São Paulo, that focuses on high-end apartments. The police are investigating how the couple managed to access the building. At the time, two apartments were burgled.
In the CISP 9 area, covering Catete, Flamengo, and Laranjeiras, cases increased 80%, from 2023 to 2024. The CISP 10 area, including Botafogo, saw a 100% increase. In Copacabana, served by CISPs 12 and 13, residential burglaries rose significantly, a 92% increase.
Tips for Protecting Yourself from Crime in Rio
Personal safety is crucial to avoiding risky situations, especially in a city like Rio de Janeiro, where property crimes are on the rise. Some preventive measures include avoiding the visible use of cell phones and valuable items in public spaces, staying alert while walking in busy areas, and opting for safer, well-lit routes, particularly at night. Additionally, when using public transportation or ride-hailing apps, plan your trips in advance and choose reputable services.
Vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying vulnerabilities or weaknesses of an installation, entity, location. You need to evaluate the state of the physical protection system (“PPS”) in an installation to determine how well it meets the defined goals and objectives, this is done through the assessment of the existing PPS of the Unit: Technological means of protection, Physical means of protection, Human means of protection, and Security policies and procedures. It is important to note that a vulnerability assessment should be conducted once to establish baseline security measures against defined threats; and should be repeated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed updates and then conducted again periodically to verify that the system is functioning as needed.
INTERLIRA offers specialized security inductions, providing guidance to people living or working in Rio de Janeiro or in any city of Brazil on practical measures to enhance their security. We also conduct personalized security risk analyses to identify threats and develop appropriate security plans. Furthermore, it is possible to find on our webpage updated tips and information on crime prevention, where you can find useful resources to help you stay protected in various situations. The clipping that we offer with our monthly security review also contains updated security trends and advices specifically designed for each city that Interlira monitors: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Angra dos Reis, and Santos and others if our clients request to do so.
