01/08/2025 – On Friday (01/08), former Santos FC player and current barber shop owner Madson kicked a robbery suspect who had allegedly stolen a gold chain from one of his customers outside his barbershop in Ponta da Praia. Security footage shows Madson delivering a flying kick as the suspect was being brought back by the victim, who had chased and recovered the stolen item. The suspect fled into a building, pursued by residents. Although reports indicate that two teenagers were detained, São Paulo’s Military Police found no official record of the incident.
03/08/2025 – On Sunday (03/08), a man armed with a knife threatened a woman at a bus stop on Avenida Presidente Wilson, in the direction of José Menino/Ponta da Praia. The victim was caught off guard while waiting for her bus, but bystanders quickly intervened and managed to restrain the attacker, who was injured and taken to the hospital.
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09/08/2025 – On Saturday (09/08), in the Rádio Clube neighborhood, criminals fired long guns at two Military Police vehicles during an attempt to intercept a stolen car. A 35-year-old female officer, riding as a passenger in one of the vehicles, was injured by glass shards and taken to the hospital. The suspects’ vehicle was later found abandoned.
10/08/2025 – On Sunday (10/08), a Brazilian Army sergeant killed his wife and their one-year-old daughter before taking his own life in their home in Morro Nova Cintra. Military Police, called in the early morning, found the three bodies in a bedroom, along with a pistol belonging to the sergeant. The weapon was seized for forensic examinations to determine the exact dynamics of the crime. The case is being investigated by the Civil Police.
10/08/2025 – On Sunday (10/08), police in the Santa Maria neighborhood of Santos arrested a leader of the First Capital Command (PCC) wanted for the murder of Marcelo Gonçalves Cassola, head of the Palácio da Polícia fingerprint division, who was shot dead in 2022 with rifle and pistol rounds. The suspect, located at a party through his partner’s social media, tried to flee and resisted arrest before being subdued. He is the eighth person detained in connection with the case, with four others killed in confrontations with police and one still at large.
14/08/2025 – On Thursday (14/08), in Santos, a physiotherapist was arrested in Operação Sinistro, which investigates a scheme to fraudulently obtain DPVAT insurance using false medical and physiotherapy reports. The probe, launched in Pernambuco in 2021, targets crimes including fraud, corruption, and the use of false documents. The operation served 19 arrest warrants and 19 search warrants in three states, freezing assets of two companies. In Santos, police seized her professional stamp and a laptop with related documents.
19/08/2025 – On Tuesday (19/08), two men aged 30 and 37 were arrested in Santos, suspected of exploiting teenagers to sell candy at the beach. According to the Military Police, they paid the minors R$50 for the work and were intercepted while driving a van linked to thefts. Six teenagers were found with them and confirmed the scheme. The suspects were taken to the police on charges of corruption of minors but were released after giving statements. The vehicle was seized, and the youths were handed over to their legal guardians.
19/08/2025 – On Tuesday (19/08), Brazil’s Federal Revenue seized 62 kg of cocaine at the Port of Santos, hidden in the refrigeration compartment of an empty container arriving from Barcelona, Spain. The drugs were detected during a routine inspection with the help of sniffer dogs, which signaled the suspicious spot. The cocaine was confirmed after testing, and the Federal Police were called to investigate. In 2024, the Santos customs unit seized 5.26 tons of cocaine, a figure already surpassed in the first seven months of 2025.
26/08/2025 – On Tuesday (26/08), two men attempted to break into a house in the Bom Retiro neighborhood of Santos but fled after the resident startled them by speaking through the intercom. Security footage shows one suspect covering the camera while the other tries to force the lock. The incident was recorded as an attempted burglary at the 5th Police District. The homeowner expressed concern about rising thefts in the area, noting that her sister-in-law had recently suffered a successful break-in.
27/08/2025 – On Wednesday (27/08), two men linked to the PCC were arrested in Santos under temporary warrants, suspected of aiding an ambush against Special Operations Group (GOE) officers. Police allege they helped a gunman escape and that one of them monitored patrol cars using city cameras. One of the suspects was filmed being arrested while asleep at home. The case stems from a July 18 operation in Jardim Castelo, when GOE agents were attacked with gunfire; an 18-year-old suspect was shot and arrested, while others fled. The Civil Police continue to investigate.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Be cautious when in the vicinity of Embaré, Ponta da Praia, Campo Grande, Rádio Clube, Downtown, and Estuário.
- Never visit neighborhoods on the hills, such as Morro de São Bento, Jabaquara, Saboo, and others, since they are gang-controlled zones where shootouts occur frequently.
- Avoid passing near the VLT tunnel, in José Menino, as many drug users and homeless people stay there, especially next to the walls of the Clube dos Ingleses.
- The waterfront has many incidents of thefts and robberies (snatch and run), never display wealth, and avoid walking there during the night.
- During the Summer, risks increase, due to the bigger number of beachgoers.
- Residences in the neighborhoods of Pompeia, Gonzaga, Boqueirão, Embaré, Aparecida, Estuário, and Ponta da Praia are frequently targeted by thieves who look for bikes and items in the common areas.
- Make sure your building is well protected, with a 24/7 doorperson.
- Be cautious at all times, including in areas perceived as safe.
- Always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers if attacked.
- In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant, as they might be armed or resort to violence.
- In case of kidnapping:
- Cooperate in order to mitigate the risk of violence, and do not lie or provide false information to your kidnappers.
- Bear in mind that the vast majority of kidnappings are financially motivated, and nowadays they tend to be quick and focused on forcing the victims to transfer money using their cell phones.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
