01/07/2024 – Parents stated that a nursing technician at Salgado Filho Hospital in Méier hit their four-month-old son on Monday (1). The mother stated that the technician slapped the child twice in the face, she also stated that the technician smelled very strongly of alcohol. The case is being investigated by police and the hospital has removed the employee from his activities until the facts are ascertained.
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02/07/2024 – Criminals stole approximately 500 meters of cables on Tuesday (2) in Parque Colúmbia. Agents from the Military Police’s Special Patrol and Crowd Control Battalion discovered the crime and seized a backhoe and two motorcycles, as well as recovering the cables. They have not disclosed if anyone was arrested.
03/07/2024 – A Military Police captain took a fatal shot to the head during an operation in Morro do Urubu on Wednesday (3). The operation was against drug traffickers from the Comando Vermelho (CV) who were stealing cargo and cars in the region. The operation turned into a shootout between police and bandits.
05/07/2024 – On Friday (5) a Military Police officer was shot during an attempted robbery in his home in Vista Alegre. It was reported that the officer saw two bandits entering through the backyard on the security camera and tried to prevent the robbery. The officer took one bullet to the arm and another to the chest.
07/07/2024 – The Civil Police arrested two women in Lapa on Sunday morning (7) while they were attempting to commit a crime known as ‘Good night, Cinderella’ (spiked drink scam) against a German tourist. The suspects aimed to take the victim to a hotel and drug the tourist. According to police, the suspects were already being monitored by the intelligence sector. Two medications that would be used to render the victim unconscious were found during the arrest, which took place before the victim ingested it.
07/07/2024 – A fake lawyer scam targets individuals in Rio de Janeiro by criminals who pretend to be responsible for their cases and demand transfers via Pix. A victim stated that she received a message on Sunday (7) accompanied by a photo of her lawyer stating that she would receive R$20,000 in compensation for a lawsuit. However, for this to happen the victim would have to make a Pix transfer of R$980 to a third-party account. When she was unable to pay the full amount, she realized it was a scam and reported it to the police, who stated that this was a common scam in Rio.
08/07/2024 – On Monday (8) a car was targeted on Rua General Severiano, in Botafogo by a criminal. Drivers who pass through this street have suffered constant robberies. According to the president of the Botafogo Residents and Friends Association, the number of homeless people has increased due to the sale of crack cocaine in the region’s communities, where users assault pedestrians and drivers for money.
09/07/2024 – Thieves stole 26 light projectors from four walkways in Flamengo on Tuesday (9). The information was confirmed by Rioluz, the company responsible for public lighting in the city. The company stated that the objects were protected by barred boxes.
09/07/2024 – The Civil Police are investigating whether a gang used drones to drop bombs on rivals in the North Zone of Rio. The police obtained videos recorded by drones which were remotely piloted to monitor and attack rivals. One of the images showed a grenade being thrown during a fight in Morro do Quitungo, where the bomb exploded upon touching the ground and injured five people. Investigations indicate that the attack originated from the Israel Complex.
12/07/2024 – The coordinator of a school in Praia da Bandeira, on Ilha do Governador, was the victim of an express kidnapping on Friday (12). The victim was approached by two criminals when she arrived at work, who forced her into a vehicle and drove away. The victim stated the criminals were armed and wanted R$30,000 to release her. When the suspects saw a police checkpoint, they left the car and fled on foot. One of the suspects was arrested on Tuesday (16).
13/07/2024 – The Civil Police arrested three people associated with a gang that hacked bank branches and committed scams to steal money from customers on Saturday (13). The arrests were part of phase two of Operation Firewall which aims to dismantle the gang. The gang’s financial operator was arrested in Todos os Santos, while the other two arrests, one of which was that of the gang’s leader, took place in the greater Rio de Janeiro region.
14/07/2024 – A couple was kidnapped in Barra da Tijuca on Sunday (14). The victims were approached by criminals while they were in their car. The Criminals separated the victims in two different cars before taking them to multiple locations and forced them to make bank withdrawals. The victims were released in the North Zone.
16/07/2024 – Military Police (PM) officers were attacked with gunfire in Penha on Tuesday morning (16). According to the PM the officers carried out an approach on Rua Cajá when they were targeted by the shots. They additionally stated that a stolen vehicle was recovered, and drugs were seized during the operation.
17/07/2024 – A retaliation to the police operation taking place in the West Zone of Rio took place in Cidade de Deus on Wednesday (17). Protesters gathered peacefully to demonstrate against the demolition of stalls in the community due to Operation Ordo which began on Monday (15) in 14 communities in the West Zone of Rio. When the police arrived, the protesters threw stones at them, and the police retaliated with tear gas and rubber bullets. In the confusion of the incident, a former Youth Secretary was attacked. Police teams were called to try to contain the confusion and a police base was attacked.
19/07/2024 – A man was shot by a stray bullet in Brás de Pina during a shootout that took place from Friday night (19) until Saturday morning (20). According to the Military Police, the shooting began in the Quitungo favela, and they suspect an attempted invasion of the area from a rival faction.
20/07/2024 – A shootout took place between rival drug traffickers in the early hours of Saturday (20) until Sunday (21) in Morro dos Macacos in Vila Isabel. Currently, the area is controlled by the Third Pure Command (TCP). Now, the Red Command (CV), which previously controlled the area, is trying to retake the community. According to residents, this dispute has been going on for months.
22/07/2024 – A Military Police operation in Cordovil resulted in a shootout between drug traffickers and police on Monday morning (22). The shootout led to the main road Avenida Brasil closing at least twice. According to reports, drivers who were driving on the road had to get out of their vehicles and throw themselves on the ground to protect themselves from the confrontation. Five people were arrested.
23/07/2024 – The Tourism Support Police Station (Deat) arrested a man on Tuesday (23) for fraud and association with a gang that extorts tourists on Copacabana Beach. Earlier on Tuesday the suspect and two other men took cups from a Chilean couple who were walking along the beach and filled the cups with cachaça, without their consent. The victims stated they were forced to pay R$20 on a credit card, however, the gang approximately took between US$899-5000 instead. Upon realizing they had been scammed the couple reported the incident to the Deat, who are locating the other suspects.
23/07/2024 – Three bandits died during a Military Police (PM) operation in Morro do Juramento on Tuesday (23). The operation aimed to prevent cargo and vehicle theft in the community. According to the PM, the agents were received with gunfire by a group of armed criminals and after an intense confrontation, the three men were shot. The PM seized three rifles, two pistols, and drugs from the criminals. Five other suspects were arrested.
26/07/2024 – Armed bandits stole two cars in under a minute in Méier on Friday (26). The crime took place outside a garage and was captured on security cameras. The images showed at least three bandits who approached two of the victims as they entered the garage of the building forced them out of the vehicle and opened their phones. Before the bandits fled the scene, they approached another car driving past forced the women inside out of the vehicle, and fled with the two cars.
29/07/2024 – An app driver was shot in the neck in the early hours of Monday (29) during a shootout in the Quitungo Community, in Brás de Pina, in the North Zone of Rio. According to reports, members of the Third Pure Command (TCP) who were trying to invade the area came across members from the Red Command (CV), there was an intense exchange of gunfire and two people were injured. Additionally, during the early hours of the morning, police intercepted four cars used by criminals to travel between communities. Two criminals, one of whom was identified as the head of drug trafficking in the Quitungo and Guaporé communities, were arrested.
30/07/2024 – Three men were arrested in Flamengo for pretending to offer help to the elderly to scam them on Tuesday (30). The investigation indicates that two of the suspects would offer to help the victims by suggesting they should use another cash register, implying the one they were using was defective. The third suspect took advantage of the distraction and carried out financial transactions from the account which was still open at the first teller. The suspects admitted having participated in a scam that caused a loss of R$2,500 to an elderly person.
31/07/2024 – A man died, and two other people were injured, including a military police officer, in a shootout on Wednesday afternoon (31), in Pavuna. The confrontation happened after an agent reacted to an attempted robbery. According to the Military Police, the officer, who was off duty, was driving along Rua Dias d’Avila when criminals announced the robbery. The officer reacted and there was a confrontation.
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.
