02/06/2023 – Four criminals assaulted and robbed a man on Rua Barão de Itapetininga, downtown São Paulo. Security camera footage shows the victim sitting on a bench alone being grabbed by the neck by one of the criminals, then he is surrounded and assaulted by the rest of the gang. The criminals fled taking the victim’s cell phone, wallet, and backpack.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
03/06/2023 – A man was arrested after kidnapping a 28-year-old truck driver to steal a cargo of electronics valued at R$1.1 million, in the Jaraguá neighborhood, North Zone. According to police information, at least three men carried out the kidnapping, but two managed to escape. The gang approached the vehicle, which had left Santa Catarina. They blindfolded the victim and put him in a car. The man was taken to captivity and later released on Marginal Tietê. Criminals were located during the process of transferring the cargo to a second truck. The cargo and the two vehicles were seized.
04/06/2023 – A false employee of a telephone company was arrested in Brás, downtown São Paulo. Wearing a uniform and driving a car with stickers of a telephone company. He had the task of climbing the poles to cut the power wiring so that the rest of the gang could invade facilities and steal from businesses. This is because without electricity, alarms and monitoring cameras stopped working, facilitating the gangs action.
06/06/2023 – Five criminals were arrested by the Military Police in the Jardins neighborhood, West Zone. According to the police, the gang was already investigated for residential robberies, the criminals confessed that they would rob another house in the region.
07/06/2023 – A 47-year-old woman was shot dead by a motorcyclist on Rua Saturnino de Meireles, in the neighborhood of Vila Penteado, North Zone. The Military Police were called due to an incident with a firearm. At the scene, officers were informed that the criminal, on a motorcycle, shot the victim and fled.
09/06/2023 – A criminal managed to disarm the alarm and steal a car in Parque São Lucas, East Zone. Security cameras recorded the crime, in the images it is possible to see the criminal approaching the vehicle. Already very close to the car, he activates a device that unlocks all the locks. After that, he stayed a while watching the movement in the street and when there was no one he got in the car and fled.
09/06/2023 – A military police officer (PM) attacked a merchant in the Santa Ifigênia commercial center, downtown São Paulo. Footage from the gallery’s security cameras caught the moment the victim was thrown to the ground by the police officer. The discussion between the PM and the shopkeeper began at the counter of the establishment. The officer throws a kind of notepad and then attacks the merchant. According to the shopkeeper, the military police officer broke his chain, tore his shirt, and damaged a television and two counters. The victim also claims that the officer would have pointed a gun at him.
10/06/2023 – A doctor was a victim of the love scam in the neighborhood of Vila Brasilândia, North Zone, he set a date with a woman he met on a dating app, but when he arrived at the scene, he was kidnapped by two men. Criminals made multiple transfers via pix. After being released he registered the occurrence and went to work. During the shift, the doctor assisted a person who was a victim of a car accident, he recognized the patient as the bandit who had kidnapped him. The police were notified, now the criminal is hospitalized in police custody.
12/06/2023 – A man was found dead on Rua Doutor Bitencourt Rodrigues, in Sé, in downtown São Paulo. The Military Police were called and found the victim dead, lying on the ground with his pants down and with an injury to his back. Investigations point out that the man was possibly stabbed to death.
12/06/2023 – A young woman was kidnapped while walking her dog in the Aricanduva region, East Zone. The victim said that she was trapped in a car with four men and was threatened all the time. The kidnappers wanted the victim’s money, but they couldn’t access the bank app on her cell phone. When her boyfriend started texting her, criminals responded by making threats. Initially, they wanted R$ 10,000, but the victim’s partner tried to negotiate. The boyfriend made a transfer of R$ 4,000 and, after that, he decided to call the police. Officers talked to her family and got a record of the young woman’s cell phone and, with that, her location. Police officers found the woman and dog unharmed, but the kidnappers had already fled. So far, no one has been arrested.
17/06/2023 – Two criminals were arrested after breaking into a bank branch at dawn and breaking into a safe with a sledgehammer, on Avenida dos Bandeirantes, in the Moema region, South Zone. According to the Military Police, they jumped into the back of the wall and broke the agency’s protection grid with a sledgehammer. When the police arrived, they tried to flee, but were caught and arrested.
18/06/2023 – The police arrested two men and apprehended two teenagers, who were part of the ‘glass-breaking gang’, which robs drivers on Rua do Glicério, in the Liberdade region, downtown São Paulo. According to the Military Police, the corporation carried out “Operation Impacto Centro” to put an end to theft crimes in the region. Upon realizing the approach of the vehicles, the criminals ran and dispersed. However, two men and two teenagers were caught and arrested.
23/06/2023 – Three criminals tried to rob a retired police officer as he was arriving home in the Tatuapé neighborhood, East Zone. However, the retired police officer reacted and there was a shooting. The victim was shot in the knee, one criminal fled and two were arrested.
23/06/2023 – A gang of about ten criminals robbed the Boulevard Monti Mare shopping center on Avenida Paulista, in Jardim Paulista, downtown São Paulo. The mall’s administrator said that a woman, who rented one of the stores, had gone to the place and told him that she was going to renovate the store. Other people got there later and said they were the woman’s helpers. At a certain point, they overpowered the security guards. Criminals fled taking objects from 28 stores.
23/06/2023 – A couple was shot inside a car after a robbery in Vila Moraes, South Zone. According to the Military Police, they were in the car when another car approached to rob them. The criminals then shot the couple and fled the scene.
25/06/2023 – A market was looted on Avenida Rio Branco, in downtown São Paulo. According to witnesses at least 20 people participated. The establishment had its door broken into and was invaded by drug users from the Cracolândia region. It all happened after the police started an operation to combat drug trafficking.
25/06/2023 – At least 10 people were arrested for stealing cell phones during the Fanfarra – O Festival event, held at the Corinthians stadium, in Itaquera, East Zone. With the criminals, 31 cell phones were seized. Officers were able to identify the criminals after reports from witnesses who saw the thefts.
26/06/2023 – A doctor was held hostage for about 30 hours, after he felt for the dating app scam, in a captivity on Rua Joaquim Ferreira da Rocha, in Brasilândia, North Zone. Three men and a woman were arrested, and the victim released. The police arrived at the captivity after an anonymous tip. The criminals took out a loan of approximately R$ 180,000 in the name of the hostage. The victim reported that he was physically and psychologically assaulted.
27/06/2023 – A criminal was arrested after police chased a luxury vehicle on Avenida Sapopemba, in the São Rafael neighborhood, East Zone. The victim had her car stolen when she was leaving a church accompanied by her young son. When the police found the vehicle, they gave the driver a stop order, which he did not obey. From then on, there was a chase until the criminal lost control of the car and crashed into a bus.
28/06/2023 – Criminals invaded and robbed the apartment of an 88-year-old woman in downtown São Paulo. They rented an apartment in the same building for a few days, on an app, and went on to watch the lives of residents. When they realized that the lady was not at home, they broke in and robbed the apartment.
28/06/2023 – Armed criminals surrendered a woman who was taking her baby out of the car and stole her vehicle and belongings in Chácara Inglesa, South Zone. The crime took place in a condominium area guarded by private security companies.
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).
