07/01/2026 – On Wednesday (7), Civil Police officers were ambushed and pinned down by gunfire during an investigation at Morro São Bento. Specialized units from the Military Police, including Rota and Choque, were called in as reinforcements to rescue the trapped agents and secure the area. While no injuries or arrests were reported, authorities seized drugs, cash, and illegal slot machines, and have now launched a focused investigation to identify the attackers.
09/01/2026 – On Friday (9), a 33-year-old man was caught and beaten by witnesses after robbing a 77-year-old man in the Ponta da Praia neighborhood. The suspect, who snatched the victim’s chain and attempted to flee on a bicycle, was pinned to the ground on Rua Marcelo Ribeiro de Mendonça and struck several times with a cane. Military Police arrived to find the suspect being held by the public; they recovered the stolen jewelry and a pair of rings.
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10/01/2026 – On Saturday (10), a man was beaten by a group of people in the Aparecida neighborhood. According to the Military Police, the assault on Avenida Doutor Epitácio Pessoa was a reprisal after the man allegedly attacked a woman in a nearby restaurant. The individual was treated for minor injuries but declined to file a police report against his attackers; the woman involved also did not file a formal complaint.
10/01/2026 – On Saturday (10), a man was arrested near the Vila Belmiro stadium for posing as a Civil Police forensics expert while wearing an official department shirt. Military Police caught him tampering with the license plate of a white Mercedes-Benz and discovered a 9mm pistol and a .357 revolver inside the vehicle. The suspect, who appeared disoriented, claimed to be a licensed gun owner (CAC) but only provided medical identification. He was taken into custody for fraud and weapon possession.
13/01/2026 – On Tuesday (13), a 73-year-old woman was held hostage for over five hours after three criminals broke into her home in the Castelo neighborhood. Security footage shows the men jumping the fence at 4:20 and waiting until the victim woke up at 9:00 to ambush her. The suspects, who reportedly used drugs during the ordeal, repeatedly struck the victim on the head and threatened her with a knife before fleeing with two cell phones and bank cards. Police suspect the crime was premeditated, as the assailants appeared to have prior knowledge of the victim’s financial accounts.
16/01/2026 – On Friday (16), protesters gathered on Avenida Perimetral at the Port of Santos to demand better safety conditions following the death of 40-year-old Denise dos Santos Teixeira. The auxiliary technician died on January 12 after a conveyor belt floor reportedly collapsed, causing her to fall 20 meters at the CLI terminal where she had worked for only 45 days. Family members and colleagues organized the demonstration to denounce the “dilapidation” of the port complex and pressure authorities for structural improvements.
17/01/2026 – On Saturday morning (17), a 73-year-old man was assaulted while entering his apartment building in the Ponta da Praia neighborhood. Security cameras captured an adolescent running toward the victim, who was returning from walking his dog, and forcibly ripping a gold chain from his neck before fleeing on a bicycle with a group of accomplices.
24/01/2026 – On Saturday (24), a joint operation led by the Federal Police and the Brazilian Navy resulted in the seizure of approximately 150 kg of cocaine at the Port of Santos. Specialized divers discovered the narcotics hidden inside the “sea chest” (a submersible compartment in the hull) of the merchant vessel Orange Star, which was scheduled to depart for Rotterdam, Netherlands. This operation, which also involved the Port Guard, marks the second major drug seizure in the port complex within a 30-day period.
25/01/2026 – On Sunday (25), three criminals caused a R$ 100,000 loss after infiltrating a construction site in the Macuco neighborhood. The suspects entered the property through an abandoned house in the early morning and spent two hours dismantling electrical wiring, even managing to deceive a neighbor by posing as site workers. They fled across the rooftops when a security guard was alerted.
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.
