27/11/2022 – A couple was kidnapped as they drove out of their home garage in the West Zone. They were taken to a captivity where they stayed for 17 hours. The criminals cleaned the victims’ bank account and then robbed their residence.
30/11/2022 – A stolen cargo was found in a shed in the Imirim region, North Zone. The driver of the vehicle and the helper were taken hostage in Grajaú, South Zone. The Military Police were called to respond to a complaint from the carrier about a truck with a load of sneakers that was stolen.At the scene, officers from the Metropolitan Military Police Battalion (BPM/M) climbed through the roof of the shed and found two criminals unloading the goods. According to the military police, a third man contacted one of the detainees and reported that he released the driver and the assistant in the Grajaú region.
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05/12/2022 – Heavily armed criminals blew up ATMs in two supermarkets in Grajaú, South Zone. The criminals closed the streets that give access to the place by setting fire to cars and buses. The police were called and managed to arrest a criminal and seize a car, guns and gasoline used in the crime.
06/12/2022 – A lawyer had the armored glass windows of her car stolen by criminals in the Pinheiros neighborhood, West Zone. Criminals break the car near the glass window and that way they can take it off in one piece to resell.
06/12/2022 – A delivery man was robbed and had his bicycle stolen by three criminals in downtown São Paulo. The police managed to recover the bicycle at a time when the criminals were trying to exchange it for drugs in Cracolândia.
08/11/2022 – A gang invaded the home of a prosecutor in the Alto Pinheiros neighborhood, West Zone, and stole bottles of liquor, jewelry, tools, and a set of cutleries. But a watchman became suspicious when he saw the gang members running down the street with the valuables and warned the police.
11/12/2022 – A man had his luxury motorcycle robbed on Americano Street, in the Analia Franco neighborhood, East Zone. The victim was arriving home when he was surrendered by two armed criminals. In addition to taking the motorcycle, criminals took all the victim’s belongings.
11/12/2022 – A man was shot while fleeing an attempted robbery on Rua Princesa Isabel, in Campo Belo, South Zone. The victim was on a luxury motorcycle when approached. According to the civil police, the motorcyclist was approached by two armed suspects, who announced the robbery. The victim tried to flee, but the suspects shot him.
06/12/2022 – The theft of an app driver’s cell phone turned into a mass robbery on Rua Santa Ifigênia, in downtown São Paulo. The owner of the device ran after the criminal, meanwhile, the criminal’s accomplices attacked the passengers.
12/12/2022 – A man was surrounded and attacked in the middle of the street by drug users who live in Cracolândia. The crime took place on Avenida São João, downtown São Paulo. While the victim was being beaten, some people opened his car to steal. The beating only stopped when two police officers arrived.
13/12/2022 – A woman was dragged during a robbery in the Jardim Tietê neighborhood, East Zone. Security camera footage shows when two criminals get out of a car, one of them points a gun at the victim, tries to pull the woman’s backpack and, as he can’t, ends up dragging the young woman. Three men approach to help the woman, but they are intimidated by one of the thieves. One of the criminals still slaps the victim, who is lying in the middle of the street.
17/12/2022 – A man was stabbed at the Sé station of the Metro line 1-Blue, in the historic center of São Paulo. According to the company, the passenger had already been injured at São Bento station and was rescued by security agents at the next stop, at Sé station. He reported that he was the victim of an attempted robbery.
17/12/2022 – A shooting between criminals and the police happened in Morumbi, West Zone. Security cameras show the moment when criminals invaded and robbed a house and ran into the police. The group split. Some fled through nearby streets. While one of the thieves tried to escape through the roofs of the houses and was arrested after falling in the backyard of the residence.
18/12/2022 – Armed criminals tried to rob a motorcyclist at an intersection in the Morumbi neighborhood, West Zone. However, the pilot was an off-duty military police officer, who pulled out his gun and shot the criminals. One of the criminals managed to escape. The other was shot and arrested.
18/12/2022 – A civil servant was kidnapped close to Shopping Villa Lobos, in the Pinheiros neighborhood, West Zone, by armed criminals after arranging to meet a woman he met through a dating app. The victim told the police that he had been talking to the woman for two days and that she invited him for a beer. Upon arriving at the meeting place, he did not find the woman and was approached by criminals who removed him from the car and threatened to shoot him if he reacted. He was kidnapped for approximately six hours: he was tied hand and foot inside a car. He was assaulted and forced to hand over his cards with bank passwords.
19/12/2022 – A family was kidnapped in Guaianases, East Zone. Criminals impersonated civilian police officers and asked victims to get into a car to go to the police station. Along the way they announced it was a kidnapping. One of the criminals was arrested, but the rest of the gang managed to escape.
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.
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.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Stay away from any protest most likely to occur in the city center, including Avenida Paulista, the MASP, Praça do Ciclista, Praça da Sé, Largo da Batata and Praça da Republica.
- Monitor the local media in order to circumvent protest locations, including social media.
- If caught in a demonstration: remain still and take the time to see which way the crowd is going; attempt to leave the area by going against the movement of the crowd; avoid using your mobile phone, taking pictures or filming the demonstration; go to the nearest building as soon as possible and wait until the situation clears; try to avoid contact with security forces if possible.
- Considering the high crime rate in São Paulo, business travelers and expatriates should comply with safety rules in order to reduce the risk linked to violent crime. In case of an assault, it is strictly recommended not to resist the attackers and avoid making any sharp movement that may irritate the assailants, who do not hesitate to open fire.
- Avoid, if possible, circulating through the neighborhoods in the East Zone due to the high rates of various crimes.
- Pay attention when trying to meet new people on the internet as criminals use the dating app and social networks to apply scams.
- Due to several police operations, drug users previously concentrated in a region called “Cracolândia” have spread across downtown, leading to an increase in petty crimes. Hence, avoid walking around with your cell phone in your hand, in addition to wearing jewels and expensive watches.
- The number of express kidnappings has increased lately due to a new method (PIX) that allows people to easily transfer money using bank apps. Cooperate in order to mitigate the risk of violence.
- Attention to the windows when inside a vehicle. Keep them closed, as criminals use heavy traffic to rob passengers that expose valuables.
- Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (190), and São Paulo tourist Police (+55 11 3120 4447).
