SÃO PAULO SECURITY INCIDENTS – AUGUST MONTHLY BULLETIN

Between January and July 2025, 4,133 people went missing in São Paulo city—an average of 20 disappearances per day, according to the Public Security Department (SSP). Over 1,100 of them remain unaccounted for. Authorities emphasize that the first hours are critical for locating missing individuals and advise filing a police report immediately. The Homicide Division keeps a centralized database accessible to all police precincts. Behind the statistics are painful stories like those of Aparecida and Maria Luiza, two mothers whose sons vanished, describing their ongoing anguish as worse than death.

Between January and June 2025, the state of São Paulo recorded 379 attempted femicides, a 316% increase compared to 2023, averaging two cases per day. Femicides also rose from 111 in 2023 to 129 in 2025 during the same period. Physical assaults against women reached 33,317 cases, while 57,785 protective measures were granted, more than in any other Brazilian state. Despite this progress, legal experts warn that these tools remain insufficient in the face of systemic and rising gender-based violence. Lawyer Mayra Cotta stresses that femicides are rarely isolated events and are typically preceded by controlling and psychological abuse.

01/08/2025 – On Friday (01/08), a 30-year-old woman was found dead in the pool of Motel Astúrias, located on Marginal Pinheiros, West Zone. According to São Paulo’s Public Security Secretariat, she had checked in the previous night with a man who later left the premises. The next day, staff found her unresponsive after receiving no answer to their attempts to extend the stay. While police were at the scene, the same man returned and booked another suite. The case is under investigation as a suspicious death.

02/08/2025 – On Saturday night (02/08), around 15 armed men carried out a home invasion at a residential building on Alameda dos Anapurus, in Moema, a wealthy neighborhood in São Paulo’s South Zone. The suspects used a registered garage remote to enter the building on Alameda dos Anapurus around 23:00. They overpowered the doorman, disabled the security cameras, and ambushed residents as they arrived, forcing them into their apartments. The criminals stole valuables such as cash, jewelry, electronics, and a black Fiat Argo used in their escape.

02/08/2025 – On Saturday (02/08), in the Pinheiros neighborhood, a couple with a baby was threatened by an armed fake deliveryman during a robbery on Rua Joaquim Antunes. Another similar robbery occurred the following evening on the same street. In January, a 23-year-old man was killed during a robbery at the same location by assailants also disguised as deliverymen. The area is repeatedly targeted. Authorities stress the importance of filing police reports and report a 13% decrease in robberies this year.

03/08/2025 – On Sunday (03/08), in the Lapa district, West Zone, a 43-year-old woman died after being violently assaulted following a punk concert. The victim was punched, kicked, and suffered head trauma during a fight involving two other women, as seen on surveillance footage. She was taken to the hospital but died. The investigation was reclassified as intentional homicide by the civil police, who are working to identify the attackers visible in the video. Helen Vitai, a member of a punk collective, was reportedly attacked due to a social media dispute.

03/08/2025 – On Sunday (03/08), a Brazilian personal trainer reported being sexually harassed by crew members during a TAAG Airlines flight from Luanda to São Paulo. Three male flight attendants allegedly made degrading and sexual remarks, including insinuations that her husband should “share” her. The victim, deeply shaken, reported the incident to police and the airline, which issued an apology and launched an internal investigation. The case will be forwarded to the Federal Police since the events occurred in international airspace.

04/08/2025 – On Monday night (04/08), Santos FC supporters vandalized São Paulo/Morumbi station on Metro Line 4-Yellow in São Paulo following their team’s 3–1 win over Juventude at Morumbis Stadium. Fans tore down signage and advertising linked to São Paulo FC, the stadium’s owner. The metro operator, ViaQuatro, condemned the vandalism, took immediate action through its security staff, and notified the company responsible for the station’s advertising. Santos FC also issued a statement repudiating the acts and pledged full cooperation with authorities to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable.

05/08/2025 – On Tuesday (05/08), São Paulo Civil Police arrested 25 people in an ongoing nationwide operation targeting a criminal organization accused of illegally manufacturing and selling anabolic steroids. The group allegedly distributed controlled substances online without prescriptions under a self-branded label linked to a clandestine lab. Authorities are executing 35 arrest warrants and 85 search and seizure orders across São Paulo and 11 other states. According to police, the network moved R$25 million over five years.

05/08/2025 – On Tuesday (05/08), a man was caught in the act while attempting to steal the wheels of a vehicle in the parking lot of Congonhas Airport. Police suspect him of being involved in at least eight similar thefts in parking lots across the city. He posed as an airline passenger, carrying a suitcase, and used a car with falsified license plates, in which officers found tools, bricks, and various caps to avoid security cameras. Although the number of incidents has declined compared to 2024, the state recorded over 600 wheel thefts in the first half of 2025. Authorities state they are stepping up inspections in scrapyards and auto parts shops to curb this type of crime.

05/08/2025 – On Tuesday (05/08), two men broke into a residential building on Alameda dos Anapurus Street, in Moema, entering through the garage with a remote control. They tied up a 63-year-old resident inside his apartment, where his 95-year-old bedridden father was also present. Three days earlier, on Saturday (02/08), about 15 criminals had already invaded another building on the same street using a similar method of entry. They stole valuables, a vehicle, and attempted to force bank transfers via PIX. The civil police are investigating both incidents.

06/08/2025 – On Wednesday (06/08), a rideshare driver was kidnapped for three hours in Itaquera, East São Paulo, by three armed men. The criminals used his cards to buy drinks and meat, causing damage of around R$4,000. His wife, alerted by a phone tracking and audio app, notified the police. During the escape, the suspects crashed into another car, causing it to catch fire and seriously injuring the woman driving it. Two of the criminals were taken to the hospital, and one to the police station.

07/08/2025 – On Thursday afternoon (07/08), a military police officer was shot during an operation against two suspects accused of a robbery spree in the Paraisópolis favela, South Zone. The two men, spotted on a motorcycle, were pursued into the community by police. During the attempted arrest, a struggle broke out, and one of the suspects shot the officer in the neck. The assailants fled the scene with the officer’s firearm. The victim was taken to the hospital.

07/08/2025 – On Thursday evening (07/08), a 17-year-old student was seriously injured in the face after being stabbed multiple times with scissors by an 18-year-old classmate during a classroom fight at José Chediak Public School in Parque São Lucas, East São Paulo. The altercation, caught on video, allegedly started over a dispute involving a chair. The victim was treated by emergency responders and taken to the hospital. Police found the two students had a history of previous violence earlier in the week.

07/08/2025 – On Thursday (07/08), a 22-year-old woman was taken hostage by a man armed with a knife inside a movie theater at Shopping Metrô Tucuruvi, North Zone. Military police intervened, subduing the 27-year-old suspect without gunfire and rescuing the victim, who sustained minor injuries.

08/08/2025 – On Friday (08/08), Átila Carlai da Luz, one of Brazil’s most wanted criminals, was arrested in a luxury condominium in São Paulo by Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police. He had been sentenced to 32 years in prison for international drug trafficking using Guarulhos Airport to ship narcotics to Europe, relying on corrupt staff and accomplices in Portugal. He was also linked to the infamous 2005 Banco Central heist in Fortaleza. At the time of his arrest, he was living under a false identity. Átila also had prior convictions for ATM fraud in Rio.

08/08/2025 – On Friday (08/08), civil police arrested 12 men and detained 2 minors in the Sacomã district, South Zone, suspected of belonging to a criminal organization responsible for at least 7 burglaries and thefts in Moema and other neighborhoods in the city’s south. The group, structured with a division of tasks, cloned garage remote controls to enter buildings and steal from apartments, sometimes under armed threat.

08/08/2025 – On Friday afternoon (08/08), military police exchanged gunfire with three suspects during an attempted raid on a condominium on Rua Mário Amaral, in the Paraíso district, South Zone. One man was arrested, a teenager was apprehended, and another suspect fled. Police seized a copy of the remote control used to access the building.

08/08/2025 – On Friday (08/08), a São Paulo state prosecutor was arrested by the Federal Police. He was suspected of sexually abusing his eight-month-old daughter and sharing child abuse material. A forensic report confirmed the crime committed against the baby. The prosecutor, who was on the run, was found in a hotel near Congonhas Airport.

09/08/2025 – On Saturday evening (09/08), an off-duty civil police officer was shot while reacting to an attempted robbery on Marginal Tietê, in the northern zone of São Paulo. The officer had stopped to help two women whose car had broken down when three armed men approached. He returned fire, killing one of the assailants, while the other two fled. The injured officer drove himself to a hospital.

10/08/2025 – On Sunday, early morning (10/08), at least five hooded and helmeted individuals attacked Palmeiras’ Training Center in Água Branca, West São Paulo, by throwing bombs and fireworks inside. The act, recorded by security cameras, caused no injuries. Club president Leila Pereira described the attack as a “terrorist act” similar to one in October 2024 that killed a Cruzeiro supporter and announced that police will investigate using the footage to identify those responsible.

11/08/2025 – On Monday (11/08), residents of the Tiquatira neighborhood, in the Penha district, East side of São Paulo, blocked two local lanes of the Marginal Tietê, in the Ayrton Senna direction near the access to the Presidente Dutra Highway, to protest against a repossession order targeting the Nova Kampala – Gabriela Mistral favela. The demonstration, which was peaceful and monitored by the Military Police, ended at 19:38. The CDHU, owner of the land, cites soil contamination and offers housing assistance of R$800 until permanent relocation, as part of a project that includes a metro station, a train station, site decontamination, and road infrastructure improvements.

12/08/2025 – On Tuesday (12/08), São Paulo’s Civil Police arrested 16 people in Operation Shalom, targeting a gang suspected of robbing luxury condominiums in the capital and five other cities. Linked to the PCC, the investigation began after the 13 May attacks in Santa Cecília, where assailants used armored vehicles with cloned plates, masks, gloves, and silicone on their fingertips to avoid leaving prints. Before the raids, they cut internet cables to disable monitoring systems and front desk control.

12/08/2025 – On Tuesday morning (12/08), a bus chartered by Gol to transport its employees between Congonhas and Guarulhos airports was attacked and vandalized on Avenida 23 de Maio in South São Paulo. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle continued its route to its destination. The company expressed its indignation and stated it was taking appropriate measures.

12/08/2025 – On Tuesday (12/08), a 35-year-old armed motorcyclist was shot after attempting to rob a driver in traffic on Avenida Jornalista Roberto Marinho, in the upscale Brooklin neighborhood, South Zone. The 27-year-old victim, accompanied by his sister, managed to disarm the suspect and fired three shots. The assailant fled on foot but later died at the hospital. Police confirmed the motorcycle was stolen, and the case was registered as robbery.

13/08/2025 – On Wednesday morning (13/08), a homeless man was shot and grazed by a military police officer during an operation in downtown São Paulo, at the Viaduto Antônio Nakashima, near the Parque Dom Pedro Terminal and the State Finance Secretariat. According to police, the man pointed a replica firearm at officers during the approach. He was taken to the hospital. The operation was part of a broader effort to curb general crime in the area.

13/08/2025 – On Wednesday night (13/08), criminals set fire to a crowded municipal bus during a protest against a land repossession in Parelheiros, South Zone. The attack happened around 19:00 on Estrada da Colônia Mário Reimberg Christe. Passengers, returning from work, were forced off the vehicle before it was completely engulfed in flames. Protesters also stoned a military police car. Firefighters and police responded, and bus circulation in the area was disrupted.

14/08/2025 – An off-duty metropolitan guard was shot eight times during an attempted robbery in Moema, South Zone, on Thursday night (14/08). The crime happened on Alameda dos Aicás, when an armed man got off a motorcycle and fired at the victim, who was using his cell phone. The guard was hit in the leg and ankle but survived.

15/08/2025 – On Friday (15/08), a police operation in São Paulo arrested eight people accused of running the “fake lawyer” scam, in which criminals use leaked lawyer credentials to access ongoing court cases, obtain detailed information, and contact victims posing as their legal representatives to demand fake fees or taxes. The group’s assets — over R$500,000 in bank accounts and cryptocurrencies — were frozen, and cars, cash, and electronics were seized during searches in São Paulo, São Sebastião, and Mongaguá. One victim, a 65-year-old from the Federal District, lost more than R$500,000.

16/08/2025 – On Saturday (16/08), TV Globo reported that women denounced assaults in Ibirapuera Park, South São Paulo, stemming from disputes over space during sports activities. Victims said they were pushed, harassed, or attacked while running. A local women’s running group has adopted preventive measures by training in organized groups. The park’s administration condemned the “unacceptable incidents” and announced the installation of fixed surveillance posts. The Metropolitan Guard and the Public Security Secretariat stated they had received no official complaints but reinforced security around the park.

16/08/2025 – On Saturday (16/08), in Vila Maria, North Zone, an off-duty military police officer survived an attempted robbery after the criminals’ weapons repeatedly failed to fire. He and his wife were returning from shopping when three suspects on motorcycles, two disguised as deliverymen, attacked them. During the struggle, the assailants beat him, seized his pistol, and tried to fire it without success before fleeing with his gun, wedding ring, and necklace.

17/08/2025 – On Sunday (17/08), the Military Police and supporters of Santos and Vasco clashed before, during, and after the match at Morumbis Stadium in São Paulo, which ended in a 6–0 victory for the Rio de Janeiro team. Three attempted confrontations and one attempted invasion were recorded, requiring the intervention of cavalry units and riot police. Officers were attacked with stones, bottles, and fireworks, resulting in minor injuries to a horse, damage to a police vehicle, and the assault of an officer. Four men were arrested, according to the SSP, which stated that video footage will help identify the troublemakers.

17/08/2025 – On Sunday night (17/08), the body of 28-year-old physical education teacher Vinicius Moutinho de Paula was found in the back seat of his car, abandoned on Rua Tobias Lellio in Itaquera, East São Paulo. Missing since the previous day, he showed head bleeding and rigor mortis. His ex-girlfriend, the last person seen with him, gave conflicting testimony: she claimed he had consumed alcohol and cocaine, was unable to drive, and that she left the car parked after an argument. However, security cameras show her driving the vehicle alone. Family members accuse her of omitting information and recall a prior incident where she allegedly drugged him.

17/08/2025 – On Sunday night (17/08), a plainclothes military police officer was robbed while waiting for a rideshare car on Rua Erico Veríssimo, in the Raposo Tavares neighborhood, West São Paulo. The assailant, armed and wearing a helmet, stole the officer’s cellphone, watch, and backpack before attempting to flee on a motorcycle. The officer reacted by firing ten shots, four of which struck the suspect, who later died after being taken to a nearby health unit. One bullet also hit a parked car, though no one was inside. The victim’s cellphone was recovered, but the backpack, watch, and the criminal’s weapon were not found.

20/08/2025 – On Wednesday (20/08), a doctor and two nurses were robbed by three criminals on Doutor Almiro Leal da Costa Street, in Itaim Paulista, East Zone. The trio threatened the health professionals inside a black car and fled with the vehicle after pointing a gun at them. Police later located the suspects in the same neighborhood, but they crashed into a pole while trying to escape; a teenager was apprehended, and another man was arrested, both with prior records for robbery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. A third suspect remains at large. According to the Public Security Department, vehicle robberies in the district increased by 7.6% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, despite an overall 3% drop in other robbery cases.

21/08/2025 – On Thursday (21/08), a 12-year-old student at Escola Estadual Professor Flavio La Selva, in Jardim Ângela, had part of her middle finger severed after it was caught in a classroom door during a game among classmates, at a time when no teacher was present. Staff accused the school administration of negligence, citing lack of supervision and repeated understaffing that often forces teachers to monitor multiple classes. Her family filed a police report, and the state education department (Seduc-SP) stated that disciplinary measures would be applied, psychological support offered, and an investigation launched into the case.

22/08/2025 – On Friday (22/08), a 66-year-old Canadian man was arrested in Moema, South Zone, after allegedly raping two hotel employees aged 21 and 33. The case was registered as rape at the 27th Police Precinct (Ibirapuera), and the Canadian Consulate was notified.

23/08/2025 – On Saturday (23/08), a group of at least six teens broke into a house in Jardim Gilda Maria, West São Paulo, stealing a bicycle and two motorcycles in under an hour. After the thefts, they filmed themselves riding the stolen vehicles and mocked the situation in a live broadcast on social media. A 16-year-old was later located and apprehended in Jardim Arpoador, also in the West Zone. Police say he is part of a gang made up mostly of minors, and investigations indicate the stolen motorcycles were either resold or abandoned in wooded areas after being displayed at parties.

24/08/2025 – On Sunday (24/08), a 22-year-old Black man was violently restrained by security guards at CPTM’s José Bonifácio station in Itaquera, East zone, after jumping a turnstile. He reported being punched, thrown to the ground, and placed in a chokehold that left him bleeding and missing a tooth, saying he bit a guard in self-defense. Video shows him immobilized as witnesses warned he could die, while the CPTM claimed he committed fare evasion, vandalism, and aggression against staff. The incident was registered as damage to public property and bodily injury at the 63rd DP, with both the passenger and a guard treated for injuries. The victim’s lawyer denounced the action as institutional racism and announced civil and criminal proceedings against CPTM.

24/08/2025 – On Sunday (24/08), in the Campo Belo neighborhood, South Zone, a forensic doctor pulled out a firearm during a condominium meeting. Residents quickly restrained him, and no one was injured. According to the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat, the officer voluntarily handed over the weapon, which was seized. The Civil Police’s Internal Affairs and military police were called to the scene, witnesses were heard, and forensic examinations were requested.

26/08/2025 – On Tuesday (26/08), São Paulo police launched an operation to dismantle a gang specializing in stealing weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy from pharmacies. The 30th Police District (Tatuapé) executed ten warrants and eight search and seizure orders, detaining at least three suspects and recovering stolen medications. Investigators say the group operated in an organized manner, targeting at least five pharmacies in the East Zone since March.

26/08/2025 – On Tuesday (26/08), six armed men broke into a house in São Paulo’s Morumbi neighborhood. The family was held hostage while the suspects stole a safe containing jewelry, electronics, and other valuables.

26/08/2025 – On Tuesday (26/08), shortly after the Morumbi robbery, police chased the suspects, leading to a shootout in Paraisópolis on Avenida Hebe Camargo. Gunfire was exchanged, a police car crashed into a pole, and several homes were struck by stray bullets. No injuries or arrests were reported.

26/08/2025 – On Tuesday (26/08), in Parque São Lucas, East zone, 9-month-old Dante Chiquinelli Marcatto died three hours after eating mashed banana allegedly mixed with rat poison given by his mother, tattoo artist Giovanna Chiquinelli Marcatto. The autopsy confirmed traces of poison, and daycare staff had already warned her of Dante’s prior symptoms of vomiting and urine discoloration. Despite this, she did not seek medical care. The next day, August 27, Giovanna was arrested and had a 30-day temporary detention order issued, being investigated for qualified homicide.

28/08/2025 – On Thursday (28/08), the Federal Police launched a mega-operation to dismantle a billion Reais PCC scheme in the fuel sector, uncovering the use of financial institutions to launder money, disguise transactions, and hide assets. However, only 6 of 14 arrest warrants were executed, raising suspicions of a data leak after key targets escaped. Investigators consider the seizures highly relevant and believe they will expose new networks in fuel adulteration and tax evasion. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad announced closer monitoring of fintechs and investment funds, using AI to track flows and block organized crime from using them for money laundering.

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