Data made available by the Public Security Institute (ISP) show that theft records in three regions of the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro jumped from 1,191, in January and February 2022, to 1,735 in the same period of this year. The increase was 45.7% in thefts from passers-by, cell phones and bicycles in the areas of Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema and Leblon.The data also show that in these areas, in the first two months of the year, 29.4 thefts per day were registered in the three modalities. More than one per hour. Cell phones, the biggest target of thieves, are 60% of the total. They went from 611 in the first two months of 2022 to 1,042 this year, a 70.5% growth.
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Our Analysis:
With the end of the pandemic restrictions and a very hot Summer in 2023, there was an increase in people visiting the region, which is a scenario of opportunity for criminals to act. In addition, after the pandemic, there was a change in the criminal stain. During isolation, criminal activity was greater in the suburbs of Rio because people were at home and occasionally left their homes to complete basics tasks, such as going to the market. But people have changed their behavior, they are returning to their normal routine with the beaches again receiving a large influx and the holding of large events in the South Zone, such as New Year’s Eve and Carnival blocks. However, this increase may be a reflection of the need for more integrated action by the Civil and Military Police, the Municipal Guard, the Present Security Program, and the Rio Operations Center (COR).
14/04/2023 – Civil police officers and drug dealers clashed in Complexo da Maré, in Bonsucesso, North Zone. According to the police, they were in an area close to the community when criminals were caught taking a stolen cargo truck to the community. A shooting started near Avenida Brasil. A section of the road was closed for a few minutes. The police were able to locate and recover the cargo, which is valued at around R$ 2 million.
14/04/2023 – A shooting left a man injured on Rua Frei Caneca in Catumbi, in downtown Rio. He had his car hit by about 40 rifle shots. According to the Civil Police, the crime is linked to a dispute over control of more than 40 points of the “jogo do bicho”, involving offenders from the North Zone and members of the contraband cigarette mafia from Baixada Fluminense.
15/04/2023 – The Federal Police (PF) arrested an 18-year-old Paraguayan girl who was transporting approximately 2.6 kg of cocaine at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport. When carrying out a routine inspection, officers found the narcotics hidden in the passenger’s body strap. According to the PF, the young woman intended to board a commercial flight that would stop in Paris, but her destination would be Barcelona, Spain.
15/04/2023 – A 36-year-old military police officer died after being shot by criminals during a confrontation. He was on Avenida Brasil, near the neighborhood of Olaria, North Zone. The officer was rescued but couldn’t resist the injuries. According to the Military Police, criminals tried to escape a siege made by the Expressway Policing Battalion (BPVE) when a confrontation began.
16/04/2023 – An elderly woman died after hitting her head when pushed during a robbery on the sidewalk of Copacabana Beach, on Avenida Atlântica, South Zone. According to witnesses, the criminal is a 17-year-old minor who tore off the victim’s necklace when she was walking by with two friends.
17/04/2023 – The Military Police (PM) carried out an operation in Complexo da Maré, North Zone. One man died and another was injured. According to the PM, teams from the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE) were in Maré and bandits shot at them, who responded. Two pistols, two magazines, ammunition and packs of hashish were seized. The PM did not inform the objective of this operation nor the reason for it to have happened during the night.
17/04/2023 – Military police (PM) and criminals exchanged fire on Rua São Luiz Gonzaga, in the Benfica neighborhood, North Zone. Officers were passing by the scene when they saw three men who were in a car robbing. The PMs approached the criminals and there was a confrontation. One criminal and a passerby were shot.
17/04/2023 – A newlywed couple was robbed when they arrived home in Senador Camará, West Zone. They were surrendered by four criminals on two motorcycles. Bandits took documents, cell phones, the car and engagement rings.
18/04/2023 – One of the leaders of the militia that operates in the Baixada Fluminense was killed. The Army sergeant, known as Júnior Gringo, was killed during a shooting with Civil Police officers. The confrontation took place in front of his home, during an operation that served an arrest warrant against him. Upon arriving at his residence, a luxury penthouse in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, West Zone, the police were met with gunfire. Residents of the regions controlled by his militia point out that, in addition to the exploitation of services such as water, electricity and internet, there was even a curfew imposed by the gang.
19/04/2023 – A military police officer died after being shot on Rua Aurélio Valportoem, in Marechal Hermes, North Zone. The Civil Police is investigating the relationship between the crime and the recent war involving the “jogo do bicho”. According to the first reports, four hooded men fired rifle shots at the victim. He was rescued but couldn’t resist.
19/05/2023 – Federal Road police officers had a shooting with criminals on Avenida Brasil, near Bonsucesso, North Zone. Officers were following a group of criminals divided into two vehicles along the road when the shooting began. After, police were able to arrest five of them. Witnesses said that, because of the shooting, traffic was stopped, and other criminals took advantage and started robbing drivers.
19/04/2023 – Rio’s Civil Police launched an operation against a gang specialized in apartment thefts in the South Zone. According to investigations, the thieves came from São Paulo and invaded homes in Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon after jewelry, designer bags and luxury watches. With false documents, they rented cars in São Paulo and drove to Rio, where they stayed in hotels. To define the targets, they had access to clandestine lists with names and data of people who acquired these goods. Another way to select victims was through social networks. Those who boasted became targets. With the targets defined, they began to monitor the addresses to find gaps in security and only invaded the properties if they were sure that they were empty. The material stolen in Rio was resold in São Paulo so as not to arouse suspicion.
