The episode of violence experienced by two Chilean friends in Rio is far from being an isolated case. In 2022 alone, the Tourist Service Police Station (Deat) recorded 2,683 incidents of robbery or theft of foreign tourists made. The total is equivalent to one occurrence every three hours, on average. There were 606 robberies and 2,077 thefts registered. Among robberies, the majority (395 cases) refer to pedestrian robbery. Next come cell phone thefts, with 107 records last year. Nine out of ten tourist robberies occur in the city of Rio, but there are also crimes in Duque de Caxias, São João de Meriti, Nova Iguaçu and 13 other municipalities. In the capital, Copacabana is the neighborhood with the most robberies and thefts recorded against tourists, with 129 occurrences in 2022. The following neighborhoods are Centro, Ipanema, Santa Teresa and Leblon. Of the robbery records in which the crime scene was identified, 236 occurred on a public road, followed by the beach (46 cases), bar or restaurant (4) and park (4). Among the thefts against foreign tourists last year, more than a third (758 occurrences) took place on the beach, followed by cases on public roads, hotels, commercial establishments and inside a taxi.
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19/05/2023 – A former military police officer was killed inside the parking lot of a store on Avenida Geremário Dantas, in Freguesia, Jacarepaguá, West Zone. According to the police, he was known as Deco, and was involved in the Rio das Pedras militia. Security camera recordings show two hooded men firing several shots at the victim. Nobody was arrested.
19/05/2023 – A car robbery followed by a chase and shooting left a criminal and a pedestrian injured in Jacarepaguá, West Zone. According to information from residents, two criminals surrendered a driver in Pechincha, but were surprised by Military Police from the Battalion of Special Rounds and Crowd Control (Recom). There was a quick pursuit, and the bandits shot at the police, who retaliated. One of the criminals was shot and arrested. The other fled. A person passing by was hit in the foot.
19/05/2023 – A security camera caught the robbery of a customer in a mechanical workshop in Brás de Pina, North Zone. In the images, it is possible to see when a white car approaches the place and passes in front of the establishment, at Rua Almirante Ingram. Then, two criminals armed with pistols approach on foot and surrender a man who is inside the store. He is obliged to hand over his necklace and other objects and is searched by the criminals, who then flee.
20/05/2023 – A woman died after eating chocolates that she received from an anonymous sender, along with a bouquet of flowers, on her birthday. Civil Police are investigating whether the 54-year-old caregiver was poisoned. According to her family, she had been receiving threats on social networks and, on Saturday, answered a call in which a delivery guy told her that there was a delivery for her. She even told acquaintances that she was afraid to eat the chocolates because they could be poisoned. The victim felt sick on the street, was rescued by military police who were passing by on the street and was taken to the hospital, where she arrived dead.
21/05/2023 – Several people went to the police station in Copacabana, South Zone, to register thefts during a music festival that took place on the beach. Images recorded by a resident of the region showed the confusion and people running in the sand. Two men were arrested by the police. Another man who had an open arrest warrant was also arrested during patrolling that took place before the event. Still during the patrol, the agents found nine knives in the sand.
21/05/2023 – A fitness influencer was killed when accessing the Linha Amarela in Pilares, North Zone. Civil Police are treating the case as an attempted robbery. The family, however, does not believe in robbery and says that the car was followed. She was in the car with her husband when the criminals approached. She was shot in the shoulder and the bullet went through her heart.
22/08/2023 – A moto taxi driver was killed in Rio das Pedras, West Zone. The 35-year-old victim was hit by gunshots on Avenida Engenheiro Souza Filho. The Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC) is investigating the case. In a note, the Military Police reported that officers were called to the incident location, where they located an injured man. He was rescued but couldn’t resist.
23/05/2023 – Two boys on a motorcycle committed several robberies in downtown Rio, when they arrived at Leopoldina they passed by agents who were training an armored vehicle from the Casa da Moeda, who became suspicious of the duo when they saw them going up the construction site, as if they were running away. Realizing they were being chased, the duo shot at the police. Both were hit, one of which died on the spot. The other was taken to the hospital. At least two cars passing by were hit by gunfire.
23/05/2023 – A municipal guard was killed as he left his house, on Rua Oliveira Melo, in Cordovil, North Zone. The 35-year-old victim was chased by occupants of a car. Criminals would have tried to steal the victim’s motorcycle. The approach was spotted by a security camera, in the images it is possible to see the victim in front of the gate when a car approaches. At least three men exit the vehicle. The guard runs but is overtaken by the criminals. Moments later, the killers get back in their car and leave the scene.
24/05/2023 – Officers from the Special Operations Battalion (Bope) of the Military Police and the Coordination of Special Resources (Core) of the Civil Police carried out a joint operation in the Alemão and Penha complexes, North Zone, to arrest criminals from other states and drug lords of the region. One person was shot dead, and two others were injured. There was an intense shooting in both communities. Criminals set fire to barricades to make it difficult for police to pass. Armored vehicles were used.
24/05/2023 – The Federal Police (PF) arrested two people in Operation Novos Rumos, against a cocaine shipping scheme from Rio de Janeiro to Europe. About a ton and a half of the drug was seized during investigations. One of the prisoners is a professional diver. According to investigations, the criminal group, linked to the Red Command, exports the drug in its purest form, clandestinely inserting it into vessels. To gain access to the ships of interest, the group had the support of employees hired from the Port of Rio de Janeiro.
25/05/2023 – Three men who were part of a gang that sells synthetic drugs at parties in Rio and São Paulo, were arrested in Copacabana, South Zone. The group also sells narcotics through messaging apps. The police operation was carried out with the aim of complying with seven search and seizure warrants under investigation by the Rio Civil Police. In one of the criminals’ house, officers found marijuana and the substance butanediol, an input to produce GHB, known as a “rape drug”, used to dope victims. Material for packing, pipes and lighters were also seized. GHB is also used by young people at parties and is extremely addictive. In the house of the other two arrested, a large amount of synthetic drugs was found, such as methamphetamine, as well as anabolic steroids and money.
25/05/2023 – The police carried out an operation in Morro da Fé, in Complexo da Penha, North Zone. Five people died and three others were injured. According to residents, there was an intense shooting during the early morning. According to the Military Police, a resident was shot inside a bakery. Another resident was also shot.
26/05/2023 – The Military Police reported that teams from the Pacifying Police Coordination (CPP) and the Pacifying Police Unity (UPP) carried out an operation in Morro Dona Marta, in Botafogo, South Zone. Officers worked in the region to arrest criminals and put an end to an irregular music event. A criminal was shot and died. With him, the police seized a submachine gun. Morro Dona Marta is located on Rua São Clemente, one of the busiest streets in the neighborhood.
