01/05/2022 – A man was arrested after holding a woman hostage for an hour and threatening her with a knife inside a small market, located on Av. Guilherme Cotching, in Vila Maria, in the North Zone of Sao Paulo, in the morning. The woman was held hostage because a police patrol arrived when the suspect robbing the market.
02/05/2022 – The Civil Police apprehended eight teenagers on suspicion of having committed gang rape of three girls. The cases occurred in April in Vila Curuçá, in the East Zone of Sao Paulo. The girls were invited by one of the boys to his home, they were given alcohol and taken into a car where they were raped. Videos of the scenes were shared on whatsapp groups. The police conducted searches at the boys houses: drugs were found at the house of one of them and medecines at the home of another.
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04/06/2022 – A group of six men robbed a jewelry store inside the Shopping Ibirapuera, in the Indianópolis neighborhood, in the South Zone of Sao Paulo. The armed robbers took six bag full of jewelry and fled the mall in two cars without being noticed by the security guards.
06/06/2022 – A man was stabbed to death in the afternoon after a fight between drug users at the intersection between Av. Duque de Caxias and Alameda Barão de Limeira, in Campos Elíseos, near the area known as Cracolândia, in the Central Zone of Sao Paulo.
Our analysis:
It is important, when you are aware that the place you are at is known for being a place where drug is highly consumed, to take an Uber or a taxi to go where you need to go, even if the distance to cover is small. Another option might be to bypass the area by extending your path of a few minutes. This may avoid you to find yourself into dangerous situations. Furthermore, drugs effect on drug consumers are very well known. They can impact the nervous system, thoughts, emotions and perceptions. Because of these effects, drug consumers can have unexpected reactions, which is why it is preferable to avoid places known for being spaces where illicit substances are consumed.
07/06/2022 – A truck driver and his wife were kidnapped by a gang, who stole money from them by Pix and threatened them with death for seven hours. The crime occurred in the morning, in Jardim Rincão, in the North Zone of Sao Paulo. The victims were released unharmed by the criminals and then called the Military Police, that managed to arrest the four suspects.
08/06/2022 – Men tried to blow up an ATM on the Av. Paulo Guilguer Reimnerg, in Grajaú region, in the South Zone of Sao Paulo, at dawn. The group set explosives in the ATM in an attempt to open the device, but the explosives failed, and the men were not successful in blowing up the machine.
08/06/2022 – A retired military police officer was shot in the back by a robber in the morning, in Rua Barão de Duprat, in Dowtown Sao Paulo. The victim’s state of health has not been disclosed yet. The criminal has not been neither identified nor arrested yet. It is not known if the criminal managed to rob anything.
11/06/2022 – A woman was freed after being kidnapped on her way to Sao Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area in the morning. The victim reported that on her way, the criminals hit the back of her car. She tried to get out of thecar but was surreendered and put into another vehicle. The police managed to discover that she was being held against her will in the outskirts of Guarulhos.
12/06/2022 – A couple’s belongings were robbed by a duo on a motorcycle, in front of a vet clinic, in Rua José Maria Lisboa, in Jardins, in the West Zone of Sao Paulo. After that first crime, further in the same street, the pair of armed criminals robbed customers of a Japanese restaurant waiting on the sidewalk at 13h23. There, a shootout happened between the criminals and an off-duty police officer walking on the other side of the sidewalk. One of the criminal was shot in the leg but managed to flee on his motorcycle. A gun and a watch were found in the street but the criminals managed to take the rest of people’s belongings.
Our analysis:
When finding yourself still in an exposed space like in a street, it is important to remain attentive to the movement around you. Even if you feel relaxed, remaining aware of your surroundings is of great importance for your protection. It is possible sometimes to anticipate risky situations, such as a robbery that is occurring on the same street where you are. Thus, it may be possible to escape before the criminals think of coming for you.
12/06/2022 – Four criminals robbed a house in Pinheiros, in the West Zone of Sao Paulo at night. After the crime, the gang was chased by police officers on the streets of the neighborhood. A shootout took place between the criminals and the police. The criminals gave up on their stolen car and a part of the stolen items was recovered.
16/06/2022 – Four armed men invaded a house located on Afrânio do Amaral st., in Parque São Domingos, in the North Zone of São Paulo. They took a family hostage and stole several valuable items, around 00:20. The Military Police was called but the criminals fled. So far, no suspects have been arrested.
17/06/2022 – Suspects robbed a store inside the SP Market mall, around 18h, in the Interlagos region, South Zone of São Paulo. The suspects fled in a cab. It is not known yet what was taken or if anyone was injured.
21/06/2022 – Military Police discovered a million-dollar scheme of ATM withdrawals during bank fraud in various parts of Sao Paulo. Investigations point to an estimated loss of about R$ 100 million. The scam consists of using cloned cards with faulty identification chips to withdraw R$ 1.000 until the ATM is empty. Five suspects were arrested in Brasilândia, Sao Paulo North Zone, in the afternoon. The next day, two suspects were arrested in Butanta, in the West Zone.
23/06/2022 – An off-duty military police officer was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in Tapes St., in Cambuci, in the Central Zone of Sao Paulo, in the morning. The officer was rescued in very serious condition and taken to the Emergency Room Hospital.
23/06/2022 – A criminal robbed a woman’s bicycle and cellphone in Barra Funda, in the Central Zone of Sao Paulo. Shocked and panicked, the woman fainted in the middle of the street.
25/06/2022 – A couple of residents was robbed when trying to enter the condominium in Vila Mascote, in the South Zone of Sao Paulo. Two armed criminals approached the couple in the early morning and took all their belongings before they managed to get in.
Our analysis:
When going back home, it is important to avoid taking your time in front of your house. Indeed, outside, you are more easily at the mercy of criminals, who might take advantage of your distraction when trying to find your keys for instance, or discussing with a neighbor, to attack you. Try to have you key ready in your hands to get into the condominium quickly, and when behind the barrier, take your time to discuss or look at your phone.
27/06/2022 – Criminals surrounded a family and stole their car in broad daylight in the Jabaquara region, in the Central Zone of Sao Paulo. The mother managed to remove her daughter who was inside, in the back seat.
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.
- Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (+190), and São Paulo tourist Police (+55 11 3120 4447).