Theft reports have emerged across downtown São Paulo, particularly in areas historically affected by open-air drug scenes, following the recent dispersal of users from the main “cracolândia” hub on Rua dos Protestantes in Santa Ifigênia. Data from the São Paulo Civil Police show a sharp rise in theft complaints in May, coinciding with the night of 12 May and the early hours of 13 May, when drug users were displaced by public security forces. Since then, these individuals have scattered throughout central neighborhoods, prompting a spike in opportunistic crimes such as cell phone theft and street robberies.
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Dispersal of Users
The concentration of drug users between Rua Vitória and Rua Gusmões dissipated during the night of 12 May 12 or the early morning of 13 May. Since then, users have become scattered across various downtown locations, including the bike lane under the Minhocão overpass and Avenida Duque de Caxias. They continue to move from street to street in response to the presence of Municipal Civil Guards or Military Police.
Increase in Thefts
In the area covered by the 3rd Police Precinct (Campos Elíseos), the number of theft complaints rose by 15% in May compared to the same month in 2024. There were 681 reports, up from 590. Although this number is still below the 828 reports filed in May 2023, it represents a month-over-month increase of 114 cases compared to April 2025. Cumulatively, theft reports from January to May totaled 3,457, marking a 15% increase over the same period last year, when 2,994 cases were recorded.
Bike Gang
Residents and pedestrians in the area also report frequent thefts committed by the “bike gangs,” in which criminals on bicycles snatch cell phones and flee quickly, making them difficult to apprehend.
Sé Area
The situation in the area of the 1st Police Precinct (Sé) mirrors that of Campos Elíseos. In May, 970 theft reports were filed, compared to 687 in May 2024 — a 41% increase. Compared to April 2025, which had 894 reports, the number also rose. Between January and May of this year, 4,180 theft cases were recorded in the Sé area, an 18% rise from the 3,541 incidents reported during the same period last year.
Cracolândia Area
In the precincts directly surrounding the Cracolândia zone, such as the 2nd Precinct (Bom Retiro) and the 77th Precinct (Santa Cecília), theft reports remained relatively stable. Bom Retiro registered six more cases than the previous year, while Santa Cecília recorded an increase of five incidents.
Analysis:
The recent increase in thefts in downtown São Paulo—particularly in Sé and Campos Elíseos—appears closely linked to the latest police action that displaced drug users from the Cracolândia hub. However, as a criminal analyst notes, while the dispersal may have contributed to this rise, it is not the sole factor. Opportunistic crimes like street robberies and cellphone thefts tend to escalate when vulnerable populations are relocated without a comprehensive integration plan, especially in areas that already face chronic insecurity.
The Ricardo Nunes administration claims the current scenario stems from a long-term strategy that began in 2021, involving health and social assistance, as well as the use of surveillance and deterrence technologies. While these tools are critical, they have not fully contained the geographic spread of drug users or mitigated their side effects on public security.
Sources: A Folha de SP.
