On Thursday morning (03), a Viação Nossa Senhora do Amparo bus traveling on Avenida Brasil was targeted by three armed robbers. The bus, which had departed from Maricá in the Lagos Region, was intercepted around 5:50 near the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (Into) in São Cristóvão. The robbery of passengers on a Viação Nossa Senhora do Amparo bus on Thursday (03) on Avenida Brasil, in Caju, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, was not an isolated incident. According to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP-RJ), bus robberies in the area covered by the 17th Police Precinct (São Cristóvão) increased by 35.8% in August compared to the same month in 2023. This police station handles all robbery reports in the neighborhoods of São Cristóvão, Caju, Vasco da Gama, and Mangueira.
The Incident
The robbers took advantage of a passenger disembarking to board the bus and announce the robbery. The driver was forced off the normal route at gunpoint, while his accomplice threatened to shoot. One passenger was struck with a gun, and others were assaulted during the incident.
August 2024 Surge
ISP-RJ statistics show that in August 2024, 53 bus robberies were recorded in the aforementioned region, compared to 39 during the same period in 2023. From January to August 2024, there were 219 reports of such incidents, whereas the first eight months of 2023 saw 218 cases.
Avenida Brasil and North Zone Dominance
The North Zone of Rio de Janeiro has led the city in bus robbery incidents this year, particularly in neighborhoods adjacent to or bisected by Avenida Brasil. ISP data show significant increases in robbery reports across various police precincts from January to August 2024, compared to the same period last year.
2024 Statistics
The 21st Police Precinct (Bonsucesso) recorded the highest number of bus robberies, with 345 incidents from January to August 2024, marking a 167.4% increase from the 120 cases reported in the same period in 2023. The 39th Police Precinct (Pavuna) saw 281 cases, a 57% increase from the 179 reported last year. The 29th Police Precinct (Madureira) experienced an 88% rise in incidents, with 220 cases in 2024 compared to 117 in 2023. In contrast, the 17th Police Precinct (São Cristóvão) maintained similar levels, with 219 robberies in 2024 and 218 in the previous year.
Expansion Along the President Dutra Highway
The issue of bus robberies is not confined to the North Zone. Areas along Avenida Brasil and the Presidente Dutra Highway, leading to Baixada Fluminense, have also been affected. The 64th Police Precinct (São João de Meriti) recorded a 28% decrease in cases, yet it still ranks second in the state for the number of bus robberies, with 310 incidents so far this year.
Analysis:
The rise in bus robberies, particularly along Avenida Brasil and in neighborhoods of Rio’s North Zone, highlights a growing public safety concern that demands urgent attention. This rise not only endangers the physical safety of passengers but also undermines the public’s confidence in transportation security, a crucial factor for Rio’s mobility and economy.
From a public safety perspective, this issue reflects a broader challenge in effectively policing key transportation corridors like Avenida Brasil and Presidente Dutra Highway, both of which serve as critical links for commuters and residents.
The most recent incident involving the Viação Nossa Senhora do Amparo bus demonstrates the boldness of criminals, who not only rob passengers but threaten drivers, alter bus routes, and resort to violence, further destabilizing public safety in the region.
