SÃO PAULO SECURITY INCIDENTS – JANUARY MONTHLY BULLETIN

03/01/2026 – On Saturday (3), on Vieira de Morais Street, in the Campo Belo neighborhood, South Zone, a man was arrested and three teenagers were apprehended after burglarizing a penthouse apartment. Police caught the teenagers attempting to escape via the building’s elevator, recovering a stolen Porsche Panamera key they had discarded in the service stairs. The group was using a cloned car stolen from another building in Tatuapé on December 21.

03/01/2026 – On Saturday (3), on Tapes Street in the Liberdade neighborhood, a 39-year-old kitchen assistant was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend. Despite an active protective order from a 2025 assault case, the attacker ambushed her on the street and inflicted five wounds; she died the following morning at a hospital. The suspect was arrested 12 hours later and charged with femicide and violating a protective order, while his brother was detained for aiding his escape.

04/01/2026 – On Sunday (4), on Inajar de Souza Avenue in the Jardim Peri neighborhood, 27-year-old military police officer Lucas Lopes Bernardo died after being intentionally struck by motorcyclists during a traffic stop. Security footage shows four motorcycles speeding past a partial roadblock; as the officer attempted to intercept them, he was hit by the second vehicle and subsequently run over by the others. The suspects fled the scene without providing aid, and the case is currently being investigated as a homicide.

05/01/2026 – On Monday (5), on Reverendo Carlos Wesly Street in the Brasilândia neighborhood, North Zone, a 21-year-old driver was shot in the head and killed during a traffic dispute. The victim was inside his car when an off-duty military police officer fired the fatal shot; he was rushed to Vila Nova Cachoeirinha General Hospital but did not survive. Shortly after the incident, the 37-year-old officer surrendered to authorities, was arrested in flagrante.

05/01/2026 – On Monday (5), the owner of a liquor store in Cidade Tiradentes, East São Paulo, was arrested for illegal electricity connections and the irregular storage of fireworks. The establishment is currently under investigation following the death of Soffia Del Valle Torrealba Ramos, a 15-year-old Venezuelan girl, who died on Saturday (3), after consuming gin allegedly purchased at the shop. While forensic experts analyze seized bottles for toxic methanol contamination, medical records suggest the victim suffered from methanol poisoning and renal failure.

06/01/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (6), Military Police arrested two men on Rua Aurora in Santa Ifigênia, central São Paulo, for posing as civil police officers to extort local shopkeepers. The suspects were intercepted just 300 meters from the 3rd Police District after reports surfaced that they were demanding bribes and intimidating business owners. During the search, officers seized R$ 19,000 in cash (partially counterfeit), a 9mm pistol, a fake police badge, and mobile phones. Neither suspect has any link to security forces, and the case has been referred to Federal Police for further investigation into the origin of the weapon and badge.

06/01/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (6), a 51-year-old systems analyst was kidnapped from the parking lot of the Giga Atacado supermarket on Avenida das Nações Unidas, in the Santo Amaro district, South São Paulo. After being forced into a vehicle by three armed men, the victim was held captive as the suspects attempted to perform unauthorized PIX transfers via her phone. During a high-speed pursuit by the Military Police, the criminals pushed the woman out of the moving car on the Anhanguera Highway in Osasco to facilitate their escape. She suffered a head injury during the fall but was assisted by passersby; the suspects’ vehicle was later found abandoned, though they remain at large.

06/01/2026 – On Tuesday (6), a forklift operator at the Guarulhos International Airport cargo terminal was arrested for his involvement in stealing high-value electronic shipments. As part of “Operation Check-In III” led by a Civil Police specialized unit, the suspect is accused of facilitating the theft of at least three loads of screens and mobile phones, with total losses estimated at R$ 3 million. The investigation, which is a continuation of an offensive launched in late 2025, aims to identify other members of the criminal group operating within South America’s busiest airport.

07/01/2026 – On Wednesday (7), Civil Police arrested six members of the PCC in the “Operation Parallel Order” for using a WhatsApp group to coordinate punishments. Operating in São Paulo’s East Zone, these individuals acted as “disciplines”, enforcing internal gang rules and social conduct within local communities. Investigations, which began in 2023 and accelerated after a phone seizure, revealed discussions regarding threats, physical assaults, and social control. During the raids, police also seized a firearm with a tampered serial number, vehicles plates, and evidence linking one fugitive to a kidnapping and extortion case from December 2025.

07/01/2026 – On Wednesday night (7), a series of robberies near Burle Marx Park in Vila Andrade, South São Paulo, ended in a shootout that left a 16-year-old suspect wounded. An off-duty prison officer witnessed two individuals on a motorcycle robbing drivers in traffic and intervened, leading to an exchange of 11 gunshots. While two vehicles were struck by bullets, no bystanders or victims were injured; the teenager was apprehended with a revolver and stolen phones, while his accomplice fled the scene.

07/01/2026 – On Wednesday (7), 40-year-old mechanical engineer Felipe Afonso Araújo was found shot to death inside his car in Cidade Tiradentes, East São Paulo. The vehicle was struck by six bullets, yet investigators noted that no personal belongings were stolen, leading the DHPP to investigate whether he was lured to the location via a “love scam” on a dating app.

08/01/2026 – In the early hours of Thursday (8), criminals vandalized four Smart Sampa surveillance poles along Avenida Giovanni Gronchi in the Vila Andrade neighborhood, South Zone by sawing through their bases to steal the equipment. This monitoring system uses facial recognition to identify fugitives and has already aided in 3,650 arrests. Local authorities view the avenue as a major escape route for criminals, while the mayor recently announced plans to double the city’s investment in the program to reach 80,000 cameras.

08/01/2026 – On Thursday (8), a 31-year-old newly appointed female Civil Police delegate in São Paulo, filed a police report after being targeted by misogynistic and sexist attacks on social media. The harassment began following her post celebrating her graduation and inauguration, with various anonymous profiles questioning her professional competence based on her gender. The case, which includes messages of hate and sexual offense, was registered at the 51st Police District (Rio Pequeno) as defamation and discrimination.

09/01/2026 – On Friday night (9), two-armed motorcyclists robbed and assaulted a man walking his dog in Pinheiros, West São Paulo. Security footage shows the criminals cornering the victim on Rua Alves Guimarães, where they kicked him and forcibly snatched his belongings, including what appeared to be a neck chain. The attackers fled the scene.

09/01/2026 – On Friday (9), Miguel Abdalla Neto, the maternal uncle and former guardian of Andreas von Richthofen, was found dead in his home in Vila Congonhas, South São Paulo. Police arrived at the residence after neighbors and employees reported he had not been seen for two days; they discovered his body in a state of decomposition with no apparent signs of violence. Miguel, who lived alone, had famously served as the legal administrator of Andreas’s assets following the 2002 murder of Manfred and Marísia von Richthofen.

13/01/2026 – On Tuesday (13), police arrested three high-ranking members of the PCC in a coordinated operation across São Paulo, Mongaguá, and Jundiaí. The suspects are accused of orchestrating the September 2025 execution of former Civil Police Chief Ruy Ferraz Fontes in Praia Grande. Prosecutors state the killing was a targeted revenge mission ordered by the gang’s leadership in retaliation for his decades of combating the faction’s structure. Investigators linked the suspects to the crime through forensic evidence and digital data showing a meticulous plan involving safe houses and high-caliber weaponry.

14/01/2026 – On Wednesday morning (14), the Federal Police arrested entrepreneur Fabiano Zettel at Guarulhos International Airport as he attempted to board a private jet for Dubai. A key target in the second phase of “Operation Compliance Zero,” Zettel is the brother-in-law of Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro. The operation, authorized by Supreme Court Minister Dias Toffoli, involves 42 search warrants and the freezing of R$ 5.7 billion in assets linked to alleged financial fraud at the bank. Zettel was released shortly after his cell phone and passport were seized, under strict orders not to leave Brazil.

14/01/2026 – On Tuesday (14), a gang of four criminals robbed six customers and an employee at a high-end bakery on Rua Padre João Manoel, in the Jardins neighborhood. Security footage shows three men entering the establishment while a driver waited nearby; they made off with cell phones, gold wedding bands, a diamond ring, and luxury watches. During the escape, an off-duty civil police officer intervened, firing three shots at an armed suspect who pointed a weapon at him, while a bystander simultaneously attempted to stop the group by running over one of the bandits on the sidewalk. Despite being struck and reportedly bleeding, all suspects managed to flee.

14/01/2026 – On Wednesday night (14), a couple was robbed at gunpoint in the Capão Redondo neighborhood, South Zone. Video footage shows a 43-year-old woman and her husband being forced to kneel on the street by a lone motorcyclist while surrendering their belongings. The assailant fled the scene with two cell phones and two helmets and remains at large.

15/01/2026 – On Thursday (15), the São Paulo Civil Police launched Operation “Fear of the Pix” to dismantle a criminal group selling fraudulent tickets for Iron Maiden’s upcoming October concerts. Investigators executed five search warrants in São Paulo and Jundiaí, targeting payment processing companies used to launder money from a fake website that mimicked the official Livepass platform. During the raids, luxury cars—including a BMW and a Porsche—were seized, and one suspect was detained after attempting to destroy evidence by throwing a cell phone out of a window.

15/01/2026 – On Thursday (15), the sister of São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes was arrested after being identified by the city’s Smart Sampa facial recognition system. A fugitive with outstanding warrants, she was apprehended near a health clinic in the South Zone for crimes including drunk driving, contempt of authority, and child battery. Her convictions stem from a 2014 assault on her son and a 2022 incident involving a confrontation with highway police. The Mayor’s family, who have not been in contact with her for 15 years, declined to comment on the arrest.

15/01/2026 – On Thursday (15), actress Nina Baiocchi reported being assaulted and robbed while in a rideshare vehicle in the Santa Cecília neighborhood. During the incident, which occurred on January 10, criminals shattered the car window to steal her unlocked phone, leaving her with cuts on her hands and arms from the glass shards. The actress reacted instinctively by chasing the suspects before seeking medical attention for stitches.

16/01/2026 – On Friday (16), newly appointed São Paulo Civil Police chief Layla Lima Ayub was arrested during a Public Prosecutor’s Office operation for suspected ties to the PCC criminal organization. Ayub, a former military police officer and criminal lawyer, is accused of illegally practicing law for the faction after taking office as a delegate in December 2025. Investigations also reveal she is dating an alleged arms and drug trafficking leader from Roraima and suggests the couple used a “front man” to purchase a bakery in Itaquera, East Zone, for money laundering.

18/01/2026 – On Sunday (18), a tax court judge was kidnapped near the upscale intersection of Avenida Rebouças and Rua Oscar Freire in the Jardins neighborhood. The victim was lured into a “dating app scam” and held in a hideout in Osasco, where captors attempted to use his phone to access his apartment. After two days of captivity, a specialized police rescue operation, triggered by a pre-arranged “code word” the judge shared with his partner, successfully liberated the victim and resulted in the arrest of five suspects.

19/01/2026 – On Monday (19), a 24-year-old driver was arrested after striking three people in front of a bar in the Vila Jacuí neighborhood, East Zone. The victims were dancing in the street when they were hit by the out-of-control vehicle; one person died and another underwent a leg amputation. Although the driver initially denied drinking, a breathalyzer test and a subsequent confession confirmed alcohol consumption.

19/01/2026 – On Monday afternoon (19), a man was shot and killed by police after breaking into his former mother-in-law’s home in Cidade Dutra, South Zone. The suspect held his 79-year-old former mother-in-law and his ex-wife hostage, reportedly using the latter as a human shield and firing shots during the ordeal. Elite officers from GATE were called to negotiate but eventually entered the residence where the suspect was fatally shot. The 79-year-old victim was hospitalized with two gunshot wounds, and the case has been reported as domestic violence and attempted homicide.

19/01/2026 – On Monday (19), a lone criminal raided a pharmacy in Vila Nhocuné, East Zone, filling several bags with cosmetics and beauty products before fleeing the scene. This latest incident was the fifth robbery hitting the same establishment in just twenty days, including a coordinated raid four days prior where high-cost medications were targeted. In response to this persistent string of attacks, the Public Security Secretariat has ordered intensified patrols and specialized police actions in the area to curb the escalating violence against local pharmacies.

19/01/2026 – On Monday (19), a 25-year-old woman was arrested in flagrante after fatally stabbing a mother who was holding a child in her arms in the Tremembé neighborhood, North Zone. The perpetrator approached arriving military police officers on the street to confess to the crime and directed them to the scene where the victim was being treated by emergency services. This brutal attack, which was captured by security cameras, resulted in the death of the victim shortly after she reached the hospital.

20/01/2026 – On Tuesday (20), the São Paulo Civil Police arrested six suspects during Operation Iron Ladies, targeting crimes of rape, femicide, and domestic violence. Coordinated by the 8th Women’s Defense Station, the operation carried out warrants across São Paulo, Mauá, and São Bernardo do Campo, resulting in the seizure of replica firearms and electronic devices. This crackdown follows a record-breaking year for violence against women in Brazil, with authorities still seeking 14 additional suspects. During a press conference, police also highlighted that 600 aggressors were detained during the 2025 year-end holidays as part of ongoing efforts to combat the rising national femicide rates.

21/01/2026 – On Wednesday (21), the São Paulo Civil Police launched an operation targeting the illegal sale of corporate boxes at the Morumbis stadium. Investigators executed four search and seizure warrants, targeting high-ranking club figures and associates, including the deputy director of youth football and a former female and cultural director. The operation stems from allegations of an illicit profit-sharing scheme involving stadium suites, supported by leaked audio recordings. This crackdown occurs amid a severe institutional crisis for São Paulo FC, following the recent impeachment of its president over separate allegations of financial irregularities involving roughly $11 million in cash withdrawals.

21/01/2026 – On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, authorities reported a wave of at least three robberies against pedestrians in a single month on Rua Tuiuti, near the Tatuapé metro station. Security footage captured criminals, acting in groups of two to four, snatching jewelry from people at a taxi stand or reaching into taxis to rob passengers. The Public Security Secretariat (SSP) confirmed that an adolescent was apprehended following a robbery on January 18, and another man was arrested in the act on January 11. Police emphasized the importance of victims filing official reports to assist ongoing investigations.

21/01/2026 – On Thursday (22), an off-duty military police officer exchanged gunfire with two criminals during an attempted robbery on Rua Humberto I, in Vila Mariana, South Zone. The officer was in his car with his two children when he was approached by the suspects on a motorcycle; neither the officer nor the children were injured. Although the gunmen fled the scene and remains at large, multiple police units were deployed to the area to secure the perimeter and search for the suspects.

22/01/2026 – On Thursday (22), the São Paulo Civil Police dismantled a “scam center” operating on Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, West Zone, that employed 100 people and utilized 400 computers. As part of “Operation Dark Title” (Título Sombrio), authorities detained 12 individuals accused of defrauding the elderly by using fake judicial orders and threats of asset seizures to collect non-existent debts. The criminal network used the prestigious financial district location to gain legitimacy, operating a hybrid business that mixed legal collections with fraudulent schemes.

22/01/2026 – On Thursday (22), the wife of famous TV presenter Pedro Bial was robbed at gunpoint in Lapa, West São Paulo, by a criminal disguised as a delivery driver who stole her jewelry and unlocked phone in front of her 6-year-old daughter. Following the investigation, police arrested a first accomplice on Saturday, January 24, after identifying him on security footage. By Monday, January 26, a second member of the specialized motorcycle gang was apprehended in a joint operation involving the Civil Police and the Taboão da Serra Municipal Guard.

24/01/2026 – On Saturday (24), a 26-year-old military police officer was arrested after accidentally shooting a 50-year-old pedestrian during a motorcycle inspection in Capão Redondo, South São Paulo. The officer fired at a fleeing motorcyclist who allegedly reached for a weapon, but the bullet hit a cleaner walking to work on the other side of the street. The victim was hospitalized at Campo Limpo Hospital.

26/01/2026 – On Monday (26), police arrested a 36-year-old man on Rua São José Operário in the Tremembé neighborhood, North São Paulo, for the attempted feminicide of his ex-partner in December 2025. The suspect had been a fugitive since the attack, during which he used two firearms to shoot the victim six times at the pastry shop where she worked. During the arrest, he attempted to flee on foot and discarded a weapon before being apprehended by officers. The victim, who survived the shooting after being airlifted to a hospital, was discharged in late December following surgery and intensive care.

26/01/2026 – On Monday (26), São Paulo Civil Police arrested two more military police officers suspected of involvement in the execution of Luis Francisco Caselli, a 61-year-old businessman and lobbyist. A total of eight officers from the 6th BAEP are now under investigation for the November 2024 murder in Vila Formosa, where Caselli was shot while arriving home. Investigations revealed that the victim’s car was monitored by a tracking device allegedly delivered to one of the officers, and security footage shows the shooters attempting to recover the device after the killing.

27/01/2026 – On Tuesday morning (27), a military police officer and a suspect were shot during a confrontation on Avenida Miguel Yunes in the Campo Grande neighborhood, South Zone. The shootout occurred when police intercepted a vehicle suspected of involvement in a “crime court” execution plot. The officer, struck in the leg, was rescued by helicopter and remains stable, while one wounded suspect was taken to hospital and four others escaped. Authorities have reinforced the area as they continue to hunt for the remaining fugitives.

27/01/2026 – On Tuesday (27), Jânio Quadros Neto, grandson of the former Brazilian president, was assaulted in São Paulo following a R$ 70,000 currency scam. While mediating a dollar purchase for a friend, a female suspect vanished with the cash during a meeting in Jardim São Luiz. A subsequent dispute in a vehicle led bystanders to mistake Quadros Neto for a thief, resulting in a physical attack that required medical attention.

27/01/2026 – On Tuesday night (27), two unidentified suspects were shot and killed by Military Police during an alleged robbery in Vila Jacuí, East Zone. A soldier and a corporal opened fire 17 times after reportedly witnessing the pair on a motorcycle robbing another biker at gunpoint. Authorities later seized a replica firearm from one of the suspects.

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