RIO DE JANEIRO SECURITY INCIDENTS – 3RD BULLETIN OF OCTOBER

14/10/2022 – Two Colombians were arrested while trying to invade a village of houses on Rua Pacheco Leão, in Jardim Botânico, South Zone. According to witnesses, a resident saw the criminals trying to break into the entrance to the village, a neighbour called the police. Triggered, police officers from Lagoa Presente went to the scene and arrested the Colombians who were trying to flee. Tools for breaking down gates were found with them.

14/10/2022 – A woman was arrested by the Civil Police at a bank branch when she tried to open an account with fake documents. According to the Bonsucesso Police Department, the 27-year-old woman exceeded credit card and overdraft limits on accounts created with false identities. She was arrested at a bank branch in Tijuca, in the North Zone.

15/10/2022 – Members of the PT state directory registered a case about a shooting attack on the party’s headquarters in Cosmos, West Zone. Security cameras at the site recorded the episode and the material was handed over to investigators. The attack took place last Sunday (09/10), but the recording was only seen on Friday (14). At the time of the shooting, there was no one in the directory.

15/10/2022 – A Bolivian couple who stole cell phones from pedestrians on Rua Princesa Isabel, in Copacabana, South Zone, was arrested by Security Presente program agents. Two pedestrians approached by the couple triggered a team that was patrolling the neighborhood that managed to locate the couple. Initially, only the woman was arrested but at the Copacabana Police Station she admitted that she had a partner who had managed to escape.

Our recommendations:

Pedestrian robberies are one of the most common crimes in big cities. The main target are cell phones, as they have a considerable value and are easy to resell. That’s why taking some precautions are important to avoid going through situations like this:

• Try not to handle your cell phone in a way that takes your attention away from your surroundings. Answering the cell phone or interacting on social networks while we are in these places of concentration are attitudes that attract the eyes of robbers
• Make sure the pockets of your purse or backpack are closed
• Do not wear jewellery (chains, bracelets, and watches)
• Do not carry all your belongings, such as cards and documents, if there is no need
• Avoid walking alone, especially at night, in quiet places
• If you find yourself being followed, change your path. Try asking for help and taking shelter in a place that is open, such as a commercial establishment

15/10/2022 – A 21-year-old man died after being shot in a blitz in the Santíssimo neighborhood, West Zone. According to witnesses, the victim, who was an Air Force soldier, was driving home, but did not obey the police’s order to stop, who then shot the back of the car he was driving. The shot hit the young man in the back.

17/10/2022 – The Federal Police, with the support of the Federal Highway Police, arrested one of the main operators of a death squad investigated by the corporation. The man was on the run and was arrested in Praça da Bandeira, North Zone. According to the investigation, the criminal is responsible for managing a criminal group aimed at the extermination of competitors in the Região dos Lagos.

19/10/2022 – An attempt to steal a beer cargo had a driver held for about 40 km, ending with a shooting and a pursuit in the North Zone. The driver said that he was coming from Indaiatuba, São Paulo, with the shipment bound for Teresópolis, in the mountainous region of RJ, through the Metropolitan Arch. Near Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense, the robbers held him up, and one of them even entered the cabin. Under threat from the gang, the truck driver drove to Rio de Janeiro. On the Linha Amarela, Military Police officers became suspicious and began the pursuit. The police managed to stop the truck with a shot in the tire on Rua Clarimundo de Melo, in Encantado. According to the carrier manager, the cargo valued at R$170,000 was not looted. One criminal was arrested, but the others fled.

19/10/2022 – Military Police arrested 41 fans for attempting to invade the Maracanã Stadium, at five different points. According to images posted on social media, groups of fans without tickets tried to enter through several gates. In addition, four fugitives from justice were arrested during the match between Flamengo and Corinthians for the Copa do Brasil final. They were identified by the intelligence sector of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in the Cerco Brasil operation.

19/10/2022 – A man was killed while reacting to a robbery to try to protect his wife in the Colégio neighborhood, North Zone. The victim used to meet his wife at the subway exit so they could go home. According to the Military Police, the woman was inside the family car when an armed criminal announced the robbery. The woman handed over her belongings to the criminal, but when the victim arrived, the robbery was still going on. To protect his wife, he threw a backpack at the robber. According to the PM, the victim and the criminal got into a physical fight afterwards. The criminal shot at point-blank range. The couple’s car was taken by the robber.

20/10/2022 – The police arrested a man posing as an agent of the Federal Revenue and trying to scam a resident of Copacabana, in the South Zone. Well-dressed, the criminal rang the intercom and said he worked at the IRS and that he needed to check some data with her because she hadn’t paid her last income tax. The victim only got suspicious when he asked if she worked with PIX and if she had money in the house.

Our recommendations:

At all times, a scammer tries to use the Federal Revenue to deceive victims. These scams often involve paying taxes that don’t actually exist. It is very common for scammers to also use the visual identity of the Federal Revenue Service and attract victims with the use of terms commonly associated with the institution, such as regularization of registration data or income tax, for example. Before responding or even carrying out any financial transaction, you should pay attention to the signs that may indicate a scam.

• Always be suspicious of sudden messages that make you some kind of unexpected charge
• Even if you have any pending issues with the IRS, do not make any payments without first confirming in an official service channel of the institution
• Payments of federal taxes are made via DARF, the Federal Revenue Collection Document, and not by deposit or transfers
• Revenue does not send payment links in its communications and alerts. When you receive a link by email or mobile message, do not click
• And most importantly, the IRS never sends employees to anyone’s home

20/10/2022 – The Civil Police arrested two members of a criminal group specialized in high-value robberies in downtown Rio and prevented a criminal action planned by the gang. According to the police, the criminals belonged to the “operational” part of the gang, who carried out the armed robberies. With them, the police seized a stolen vehicle, material for cloning vehicles, and two weapons.