Cases of robberies or thefts of pickup trucks skyrocketed in São Paulo. From January to October 2022, 5,393 incidents of the type involving the utility with a bucket were recorded, against 4,245 in the same period of 2021 – an increase of 27%. These numbers were compiled by the vehicle tracking company Ituran, based on official data published on the transparency portal of the Secretariat of Public Security of the São Paulo government.The 10 most stolen pickups in 2022 were: Toyota Hilux, Volkswagen Saveiro, Fiat Strada, Chevrolet S10, Fiat Toro, Chevrolet Montana, Mitsubishi L200, Volkswagen Amarok, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier.
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Our Analysis
Sales of zero-kilometer pickups are heated and Fiat Strada ends 2022 as the most licensed new vehicle in Brazil for the second year in a row. And according to Ituran’s operations manager, the significant increase in pickup truck thefts is directly related to the high sales volume of this category of vehicles. The surge is also related to other factors that affected cars and light commercial vehicles in general. One of the causes is the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, a consequence of the end of most severe restrictions on the movement of people that were in force until last year to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Another important factor that justifies the increase in these types of crimes is the aging of the fleet, caused by the drop in purchasing power and also by the increase in the average price of new vehicles. This scenario, combined with the shortage of spare parts that began during the pandemic, has increased the search for dismantling parts – including illegal ones, supplied precisely by stolen motorcycles and cars.
23/12/2022 – A driver in an armored luxury car escaped an attempted robbery in Rio Pequeno, West Zone. The vehicle was hit by at least four shots. Security cameras from local businesses recorded the moment the driver was approached. Three criminals arrive in a black car, get out of the car and shoot. The driver reverses, collides with the criminals’ car, almost runs over one of them, accelerates and manages to escape.
24/12/2022 – A 2-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet while lying in bed in the Grajaú neighborhood, South Zone. The child’s mother says that she had put her daughter to sleep when she heard a very loud noise. According to her, the bullet went through the tiles and lining of the house and grazed the girl. It is still not known where the bullet came from, but according to the victim’s family, there was a funk party near the house, and she believes that the shot was fired from there.
25/12/2022 – Three young people were returning home when they were overtaken by a criminal in the Tucuruvi neighborhood, north zone. Two victims reacted and were shot, on died. The criminal tried to flee with the motorcycle but could not start the vehicle.
26/12/2022 – A businessman was robbed in the neighborhood of Interlagos, South Zone, by armed criminals. Even without reacting, the victim was shot in the back. The criminals stole the luxury vehicle.
26/12/2022 –A model and personal trainer was arrested after trying to apply a scam while buying jewelry at Shopping Center Norte, in Vila Guilherme, North Zone. While fleeing, the woman ran over a security guard. She already responds to almost 40 inquiries for scams. According to the Civil Police, the woman applied the scam after reporting that she was having problems paying via credit card and changing the payment method to bank transfer. However, the transactions were fake, and the sellers never received the money.
27/11/2022 – A criminal was shot dead while trying to steal a watch in the Jardins neighborhood, South Zone. Disguised as a food delivery man, he arrived armed and tried to rob a couple who were at a bar. However, the victim was a civil police officer who was accompanied by a delegate. All the action was recorded by one of the security cameras.
28/12/2022 – A judge and a scrivener were held in a captivity in the Jaguaré neighborhood, West Zone, by the Pix gang that forced them to transfer about R$ 100,000 to the criminals. According to the police, the judge and the clerk reported that they were threatened with firearms throughout the kidnapping. After the financial loss, both were released. The victims were approached by the suspects in Santo André, a city close to São Paulo.
28/12/2022 – A couple of businessmen were taken hostage by a Pix gang, in the Vila Congonhas neighborhood, South Zone. The couple was approached by five armed criminals when they arrived at the company where they work. Victims walked the streets while criminals threatened them and made Pix and loans via cell phone. The damage exceeds R$ 5,000.00. When the criminals were no longer able to make transfers, they released the couple.
28/12/2022 – One criminal died and two managed to escape after trying to rob a civil police officer on Rua Armando Gardenghi, in Tatuapé, East Zone. According to the Military Police, the officer was walking towards the bus terminal when he was surprised by three criminals, who announced the robbery. Upon realizing the approach, the officer then reacted and shot at them.
29/12/2022 – A public prosecutor was found after being kidnapped by a trio in the Vila Leopoldina neighborhood, West Zone. He told the police that he was approached by three criminals in his vehicle. One of the men took him into captivity, while the other two kept the car and objects to make withdrawals and bank transfers.
