11/11/2022 – A psychologist was stabbed by a homeless man. The victim was working at a Basic Health Unit near Praça do Patriarca, downtown São Paulo, when she was attacked. The aggressor lives on the streets and periodically undergoes psychological follow-up, but he had an outbreak and attacked the psychologist. The employee suffered injuries to her arm, stomach and leg. The suspect fled and has not yet been located.
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12/11/2022 – A criminal died during an attempted robbery on Estados Unidos Street, in Jardins, West Zone. According to the Military Police, the victim of the robbery was wearing a Rolex watch, which was the criminal’s target. The victim, however, was in his car accompanied by a private security guard. Both realized they were being followed by a man on a motorcycle. The duo stopped the car and decided to leave, being then approached by the criminal, who demanded the Rolex watch. The security guard then shot the criminal and hit him in the neck. The thief died on the spot.
12/11/2022 – A criminal died trying to rob a plainclothes policeman on Taques Alvim street, in the Cidade Jardim neighborhood, Morumbi region, South Zone. According to witnesses, two men arrived at the scene on two motorcycles and pointed the gun at the victim, who had to intervene and shot the robbers. One of them was not hit and managed to escape. The other was shot and rescued but could not resist his injuries and died.
13/11/2022 – Three criminals were arrested after robbing an app driver in the Mooca region, East Zone. According to the Military Police, the group called for a app driver close to a police base, in the Vila Prudente region, bound for the Mooca neighborhood. The trip was being carried out normally, but when they approached the destination, the criminals announced the robbery. According to the police, the group’s intention, in addition to stealing the car, was for the driver to make transfers via Pix. In a moment of distraction by the criminals, the victim managed to get out of the car and ran away. The driver went to a Fire Department base near the scene and the Military Police was called. The three criminals were arrested.
14/10/2022 – A baker was shot in the face during a robbery in Sapopemba, East Zone. She was attacked the moment she got out of the car to open the garage door. The thieves fled in another stolen car and ended up running over two people.
15/11/2022 – Two armed criminals, on a motorcycle, surrendered a motorcyclist and announced the robbery on the Anchieta highway, near the neighborhood of Sacomã, South Zone. A military police officer, who was on his way to work, saw the action and reacted. There was a shooting and one criminal died.
15/11/2022 –A cell phone store in a mall in Itaquera, East Zone, was robbed by two armed criminals. The duo entered the store and took the two employees as hostages. A customer who entered at the same time took the opportunity to steal a cell phone charger. The pair of robbers managed to escape taking more than R$ 50,000 in products and money. The customer who tried to steal the charger was arrested.
16/11/2022 – Two businessmen were rescued from captivity in the Jaraguá neighborhood, North Zone, after being victim of the “love scam”. Businessmen in luxury cars arranged meetings with alleged women on a dating app and when they arrived at the scene, they were kidnapped. A resident watched as one of the victims was taken into captivity and warned the police.
Our analysis:
As well as medical appointments, romantic relationships and even celebrations, some crimes migrated to the virtual environment during the coronavirus pandemic. This is the case of the kidnapping modality known as love scam (or Tinder scam), a trend among criminals that has consolidated even after the end of social isolation. According to the São Paulo Department of Strategic Police Operations of the Civil Police, the so-called Tinder scam already accounts for 60% of all kidnappings carried out in the capital this year. Of the 75 cases filed, 45 refer to extortion with restriction of liberty committed with the help of apps. The way criminals operate follows a well-defined pattern. Victims are found on dating apps, lured in by random photos of beautiful young women stolen from the internet. From a list of more than 30 apps used by criminals, the most popular are Tinder and Inner Circle. Most victims are men, residents of the of São Paulo Metropolitan area, usually from wealthier neighbourhoods, recently divorced, widowed, or even married. Chief of police Carina Santanieli, from the Anti-Kidnapping Division, reports that the meetings are always held in streets and squares around the captives, never in places that are more monitored with cameras and security guards, such as shopping malls. When they arrive at the agreed location, the victims are kidnapped by criminals at gunpoint, hooded and taken into captivity. Many are tortured. In captivity, the bandits extort the victim as best they can. They steal their savings, ask for loans and even new bank accounts in their name.
18/11/2022 – A man was arrested for the kidnapping and killing a businessman in São Paulo. The victim, 47 years old, was at work when he was taken on Wednesday afternoon (16/11), in São Bernardo do Campo. Hooded, the criminals got out of the car and announced the robbery. Three witnesses who were with the victim were placed in the company’s bathroom.
