Rio de Janeiro had, last year, 1,925 records of bicycles robberies and thefts — the equivalent of one occurrence every four and a half hours, on average. According to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP), there were 117 robberies and 1,808 thefts. The two indices, together, were 45% above those recorded in 2021. More than half of the bicycle robberies and thefts recorded in 2022 occurred in the areas covered by only five police stations, four of them in the South Zone. There were 1,006 cases, or 52% of the total number of occurrences. The five neighbourhoods with the most robberies and thefts of bicycles in 2022 were Leblon (284 cases), Copacabana (220 cases), Botafogo (214 cases), Catete (153 cases) and Centro/Lapa (135 cases).
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11/03/2023 – A robbery carried out on Avenida Atlântica, in the Copacabana neighborhood, South Zone, was recorded by a taxi driver passing by. In the video, it is possible to see the criminal running for about 150 meters until he reached the victim when the traffic stopped in front of him. He quickly sticks his hand through the vehicle window and runs away, apparently taking something. According to the Military Police, the man was arrested.
12/03/2023 – A Brazilian Army officer was shot three times after reacting to a robbery during a mass robbery on the Ataulfo Alves Viaduct, in Benfica, North Zone. Another driver was also shot during the criminals’ action. According to information from the Military Police, armed criminals tried to rob the officer’s car. The victim reacted and there was a shooting with the criminals. During the shooting, a second driver was also shot, and the assailants fled.
13/03/2023 – A student was assaulted during a robbery inside the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) campus, in the Ilha do Governador neighborhood, North Zone. He was approached as he was leaving one of the mess halls. He handed over R$50 to the man, who was not satisfied and beat him until he fainted.
13/03/2023 – A military police office was filmed shooting a man in front of the Cascadura forum, North Zone. According to information, the victim would have had an argument with the officer, who shot four times at his foot, on the sidewalk of Avenida Ernani Cardoso, while other people watched the scene. According to witnesses, the man would have challenged the police officer.
14/03/2023 – A group of four cyclists was robbed by criminals when arriving at Aterro do Flamengo, South Zone, to train. After surrendering, the victims got out of their cars and saw the criminals take the cars, their equipment, and bicycles.
15/03/2023 – The Military Police carried out an operation in the community of Cidade de Deus, West Zone. The operation began in the early hours of the morning and had the participation of several battalions. In total, 22 criminals were arrested and seven rifles, nine pistols, a grenade, ammunition, marijuana, and cocaine were seized.
16/03/2023 – A man was shot on Viaduto do Gasômetro, near the Caju neighborhood, North Zone. Several shots were fired, and one hit him in the shoulder. The victim is a Spanish businessman. The Military Police reported that military police officers from the Policing Battalion on Expressways (BPVE) were called to an occurrence of attempted murder.
17/03/2023 – Three people were shot during an intense shooting in the Chacrinha community, in Praça Seca, West Zone. The Military Police said that a team that was strengthening policing in the region they were attacked by criminals when the shooting began. After the confrontation, the criminals fled.
