31/12/2023 – Murder attempt fugitive has been arrested in Copacabana, South RJ, after being recognized by the new video monitored facial recognition. The man was running away since March 2023, and has been caught trying to access the New Year´s Eve event on the beach at one of the various police checkpoints. Besides the facial recognition video monitoring, the police could count on the support of the helicopters of the Aero Mobile Group, and on the individual cameras that were directly linked to the officer of the Operation Command Centre.
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02/01/2024 – Tourist bus coming from Angra dos Reis has been carjacked and diverted with 20 passengers on board in front of the Novo Rio bus station, Centre RJ. Indeed, 3 criminals took advantage of a red signal to carjack the bus. They entered shooting and announced the diverting of the bus. While on their new route, the bandits took all the belongings of the passengers under death threatening. They stopped the bus in Penha, near the slum of Kelson, North RJ, 16kms away from the Novo Rio bus station. (Nota) It is worth remembering that the route between Angra and Rio is dangerous and not recommended at all at night; also, is the arrival at the Novo Rio bus station neighbourhood.
03/01/2024 – A 24h police operation, with conventional troops, special forces and K9 teams, took place in Cidade de Deus slum, West RJ. Police informed they invaded the slum to fight against organized crime in the region, to remove the barricades that impeach the forces to penetrate with their vehicles, and to seize weapons and drugs. In the first hours of the operation, the police removed 3 tons of barricades, seized 70kgs of drugs, and arrested 2 watchers with walkie-talkies. Inhabitants declared they have heard, during the dawn, the criminals dropped fireworks to communicate their comrades the arrival of the police.
04/01/2024 – Police and lifeguards were called in Barra da Tijuca, West RJ, to search and investigate the suspect vanishment of a 6yo child. Indeed, as schools are closed for summer holidays, his father, a beach worker, brought the boy to his workplace, a drinks retail tent on the beachside near Post 4. In the middle of the afternoon, the father felt the absence of his boy. Immediately, the alert was given. Witnesses told the police they saw the boy playing football with 2 other children and an adult. They also said the police they did not seem Brazilian. Investigation is in progress and a global alert has been spread in the medias.
05/01/2024 – A PRF agent was shot in the face during a carjacking attempt in Engenho Novo, North RJ. The victim was off duty in his car when 2 bandits on a motorcycle announced the assault. The police were called for an assault and went to the local to check the information when they found the wounded victim in his car. They called the ER and the agent was evacuated to the hospital in a serious state. Nobody was arrested.
08/01/2024 – A couple has been assaulted by 5 teenagers in Barra da Tijuca, West RJ. The victims were walking by Posto 3 when 5 teenagers attacked them in front of the lifeguards´ post. Yet, knowing that the district was dangerous, they left their cell phones at their residence, but they still were robbed of their jewelry. The woman said the beach was crowded and even crying for help nobody came to assist. They then went to the lifeguards´ post to seek assistance, but they only could escort them to a precinct of Barra Presente. There, an officer ironized the fact that as residents of the district, the victims should know the area is dangerous. The corporation did not comment on the facts, nor arrested anybody.
10/01/2024 – A gang ordered R$500,000 from a construction company in Piedade, North RJ, as a “protection tax”. But the company refused and made a complaint to the City Hall. Mayor Eduardo Paes asked the police to investigate the case and to arrest the bandits. The Prosecutor´s Office said they need an official complaint from the City Hall to start any investigation.
11/01/2024 – A man has been shot in his leg during a robbery in Barra da Tijuca, West RJ. While running from the police after the crime, 2 bandits shot the officers who responded. The victim received a stray bullet from the shootout and has been rescued. Another man, the victim of the robbery was injured in the head after being hit by the stock of the suspect´s pistol and had his cell phone taken. The police already know who the bandits are and where they are hiding, as the last signal of the telephone pointed at the Cidade de Deus slum.
12/01/2024 – CV drug trafficking leader was shot dead during a shootout with the police in Freguesia (Jacarepaguá), West RJ. The shootout began as the bandits´ vehicle met a police patrol. He was accompanied by 3 of his securities, of which 2 died; the last one, injured, tried to run away but was caught a few moments later. The dealer was at the lead of the trafficking in the Cidade de Deus slum and was investigated for having participated in the down of a police helicopter in 2016 during the confrontations in the slum. Immediately after the shootout, the police invaded the slum.
12/01/2024 – An escort girl was arrested in Pavão Pavãozinho slum, in Copacabana, South RJ, for having robbed her clients with the “Boa noite, Cinderella” scam (spiked drink scam). She was under investigation by the Tourist Police since February 2023 as she robbed an Italian tourist (cell phones, IDs, credit cards, laptops, and perfumes). The detectives declared that she also robbed crypto actives from one of her clients.
15/01/2024 – Famous American art dealer Brent Sikkema was found stabbed dead in his house in Jardim Botânico, South RJ. The first element of the investigation pointed out that he was the victim of a robbery followed by murder. Sikkema was 75 years old and used to spend some time in RJ during New Year´s Eve and Carnival. He leaves a 12yo son and a husband. He founded the famous art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co., in 1991 in New York City.
15/01/2024 – Famous retired MMA athlete Diego Braga Nunes was found dead in Itanhangá, West RJ. He went into the slum Morro do Banco to negotiate the return of his stolen motorcycle. The investigation pointed out that he had been kept as a hostage by the criminals as they thought he was a militia man. They then executed him. (Update 16/01) An 18yo bandit was arrested after a police operation. He confessed to the execution of Nunes and confirmed they thought he was a militia man. The bandit´s partners are on the run.
19/01/2024 – Mass robbery provoked panic in Barra da Tijuca, West RJ. The bandits were amid a group of jugglers and profited from the red signal to rob the drivers. Nobody was hurt, and no suspect was arrested. The police are still searching for the suspects.
21/01/2024 – A Militia leader was executed in a beach bar in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, West RJ. The victim known as “Sérgio Bomba” was pointed to be the militia leader of Sepetiba and was jailed in 2017. Nobody was arrested. According to the first elements of the investigation, another militiaman, aka “Pipito” is suspected of being in the backstages of this crime as he is pointed willing to assume the succession of “Zinho”, jailed since Christmas 2023.
21/01/2024 – Two men were stabbed during pre-carnival blocks in the Centre of RJ. Witnesses of the attack told the police a group of people, simulated a fight and then proceeded to the “arrastão”. In another pointed scenario, tourists danced with locals who took the opportunity to rob the tourists’ belongings. The police arrested 8 bandits and retrieved cell phones, watches, and jewelry.
23/01/2024 – Cars were robbed during a mass robbery on Avenida Brasil, in Deodoro, North RJ. According to the press, a video has been shared on social media, and there can be seen people running on the highway amid completely stopped vehicles. According to the police, officers of the Highway Battalion went to the spot, but the bandits had already run away. Nobody was arrested.
30/01/2024 – Police arrested a group of seven criminals from Complexo do Alemão on Linha Amarela, in Freguesia, West RJ. The arrest was made after the police intelligence services transmitted the information to the area’s battalion. They were caught with guns, ammunition, grenades, cell phones, and tactical gear. In their deposition, they said they were going to Gardenia Azul slum, the Militia home district.
31/01/2024 – BOPE carried out an operation in Complexo da Penha, North RJ, and was received with an intense shootout. According to the corporation, the police intelligence services pointed out that the Red Command is looking to dominate the Militia territories in the West Zone. During the shootout, one bandit was killed, and a civilian was slightly injured. The police seized half a ton of cannabis among other drugs and rifles.
31/01/2024 – A taxi driver was stabbed during a robbery in Botafogo, South RJ. The police intervened in an accident in Praia de Botafogo and found the taxi driver wounded by a stab in the back. He told the officers he was injured as he reacted to a robbery in his vehicle by two bandits. As they were running away, the police hunted and caught them. They took the driver´s cell phone and left their knife in the taxi.
01/02/2024 – Housemaid was arrested for drugging and stealing an elderly in Copacabana, South RJ. According to the police and the elderly´s relatives, the 90-year-old victim was admitted to the hospital at least 3 times because of severe unease, and the suspect stole USD 3,4k and R$ 5k. During the arrest, the officers found sedatives on the suspect. Yet, the victim was taken to the Forensic lab for further exams.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- During summer months, mass robberies and thefts in touristic spots become the most prevalent security risks in Rio de Janeiro, specially in the city’s South Zone.
- Crowded beaches and its vicinities should be avoided.
- Avoid any display of wealth (jewelry, cell phones), but always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers.
- In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant as he or she might not be alone or turn violent.
- In the case of being in the immediate vicinity of a shootout:
- Lay on the ground and seek cover.
- When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from windows, do not move unless you are sure that the gunfire has ended.
- Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas or beaches after nightfall. Avoid walking through tunnels.
- Avoid the vicinity of crime-prone areas such as ‘communities’ (so-called ‘favelas’) and lower-income neighborhoods.
- Be always cautious, even in the areas considered safe such as Downtown, Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema. Exercise caution in the Centro during the day and avoid the area after nightfall and on Sundays.
- Be careful when using the GPS as they may lead you to unsafe areas controlled by organized crime. Prefere Cooperative taxis instead of driving yourself.
