The number of express kidnappings in the state of São Paulo in 2022 reached the highest level in 15 years. The survey considers only records from January to September of 2022, in comparison with the 12 months of previous years, which indicates that the recent escalation of these crimes should be even greater. There were 165 reports from January to September 2022, a 75% increase compared to the first three quarters of the previous year (94 reports). And the number already exceeds the entire year 2021 (160 reports). The last peak had been in 2007, when 323 happened. The increase is higher in police stations in Greater São Paulo: the capital has almost two thirds (98) of the 2022 occurrences. The number of cases increased especially in the North Zone (29). The total number of arrests by the Anti-Kidnapping Division more than doubled: from 138, in 2021, to 303, last year. More than 90% of these express kidnapping are composed by the express kidnapping in which an alleged user of a dating app sets a date in a remote location, only to kidnap the victims when they arrive. According to the police, there is no evidence of links of these crime with criminal organization such as the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC).
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15/01/2023 – A criminal invaded a building in Vila Sabrina, in São Paulo’s North Zone, at 00:00, broke in a car and stole its battery. Three days before he had committed the same crime in the location, and even though he was filmed by the building’s CCTV, he repeated the crime.
16/01/2023 – A man stabbed his own wife inside a subway wagon on Line 12 – Safira, next to Engenheiro Goulart station, in São Paulo’s East Zone. Other passengers were able to stop him, and he was detained. One other passenger was hurt while stopping him.
Recommendation:
In Brazil, one of the most numerous crimes is feminicide and aggressions committed by men, boyfriends, and husbands against wives or girlfriends. Most incidents happen in private locations, but it is not uncommon to witness one on the streets. Cases have been rising significantly, likely due to the public campaigns incentivizing women to denounce their partners. Even though it is not a crime that has a clear impact on business, there is a clear moral issue involved in assaults happening in public, especially when the victim is very vulnerable. The recommended thing to do is to first try to contact or find local security forces to intervene. Without proper training or protective equipment, attempting to detain an aggressor can result in serious physical harm and even death.
17/01/2023 – The Civil Police arrested 38 people during a mega operation against a criminal group investigated for the R$ 14 million robbery that occurred in Itaim Bibi, South Zone of São Paulo, in August last year. 77 search and seizure warrants, and 76 arrest warrants were issued in 16 cities in São Paulo, and six other states. The gang rented a commercial room in a building in Itaim Bibi and for days, the suspects monitored the movements of a real estate development company that they robbed.
Our Analysis:
When the incident was first reported, police revealed that criminals remained for several hours inside the company. Even though not many details of the incident were made public, with such time to respond, it is reasonable to say that a panic button could have helped to detain the criminals on the spot, by silently calling the police or a private security service to surround the location and prevent the robbers to escape.
17/01/2023 – 3 criminals approached a motorcyclist on Nove de Julho Ave. in Jardim Paulista, in São Paulo’s South Zone, to rob him, but the victim reacted and was shot by one of them. The criminals escaped on the stolen motorcycle, but were arrested moments later. The victim died.
17/01/2023 – Criminal arranged a date through a relationship application and kidnapped a man in Jaraguá, in São Paulo’s North Zone. The man was kept in captivity for nearly three hours, but the police managed to find the place and arrested four people at night. 18/01/2023 – Four criminals committed a mass robbery on Diamante St., in Aclimação, in São Paulo’s South Zone, at 08:55. One of their victims reacted and was shot dead. Later, two of them were arrested on Almirante Maurity St., in Glicério, in the Central Zone.
