SÃO PAULO SECURITY INCIDENTS – AUGUST MONTHLY BULLETIN

31/07/2022 – Armed criminals robbed two jewelry stores at Shopping Central Plaza, East Zone. After taking the employees hostage, the criminals placed the products inside bags. According to police, there was a shooting, and a security guard was hit in the foot.

01/08/2022 – A man was shot dead after an argument in a bar located on Cursino Avenue, in the Bosque da Saúde region, South Zone. Military Police reported that there was an argument between two men inside the establishment, when one of them threatened the other, saying he would look for a weapon at home. The man, moments later, returned armed. People who were at the bar, in an attempt to defend themselves, took the object from his hand and shot him.

Our analysis:

Arguments and fights in bars and night parties are common due to the amount of people and the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is necessary to take some precautions so that the night does not end in trouble:

• Don’t overdo the alcoholic drink: drinking moderately will make you enjoy the night even better and with full awareness of everything around you
• Pay attention to the environment: if you notice the beginning of a fight, leave as soon as possible
• Take it easy with the crowds: bars and nightclubs are environments that usually bring together many people and adverse situations, such as small bumps, can happen. Try to let go to avoid fights
• Seek help: if you are provoked, attacked or find yourself in the middle of a fight, do not fight back and seek help from establishment security team

03/08/2022 – An elderly woman was robbed after withdrawing money from the bank in the Jabaquara neighborhood, South Zone. The lady tried to resist and even fought with the criminal.

03/08/2022 – A passenger was stabbed during a robbery inside Estação da Luz, in the area of line 1-Blue of the Metro, in downtown São Paulo. According to the Metro press office, the victim was at the access to Paula Souza Street, when he was approached by three men. One of them was armed with a knife. The passenger reacted to the robbery, holding the knife in his hands. After taking the cell phone, the robber pulled the sharp object, injuring the victim. The trio then managed to escape.

04/08/2022 – A man was released by the Military Police (PM) after being kidnapped in the Brasilândia region, North Zone. According to police, the man arranged a meeting with an alleged woman through a dating app. Upon arriving at the marked location, he was captured by a group of four men and placed in the back seat of a car. The man was being taken into captivity when, on the way, the car with the criminals and the victim was intercepted by a police car, which suspected the attitude of the group’s members.

Our analysis:

You have to be careful when it comes to meeting new people, especially online. Before meeting the person, you need to take some care to make sure that the person is really who they are demonstrating to be. The first step is to confirm that the information on the app belongs to the person who is talking to you. A common tactic of fake profiles is copying someone else’s identity. They reproduce updates, including photos, to help keep up the fraud. Search the name and use Google image search tools to ensure the photos are unique and not being used in other accounts. Also look for social media, Facebook, Instagram and especially Linkedin. And when it’s time to meet with the person, choose a public place. And always tell someone you trust.

06/08/2022 – Two thieves on motorcycles robbed a woman who was walking on Marechal Barbacena Street, in Tatuapé, East Zone. One of the criminals is armed and approaches the girl on the sidewalk. As soon as she hands over her cell phone, another thief appears on another motorcycle. They seem to ask the girl for information, possibly the password for the device or the bank app. As soon as they take the victim’s cell phone, the two flee. The case happened just before 10h.

07/08/2022 – The World jiu-jitsu champion Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento, 33 years old, was shot and killed at a party inside Clube Sírio, in the Indianópolis neighborhood, South Zone. The suspect is a military police officer who is already under arrest. According to the family’s lawyer, the fighter had an argument with the man and, to calm the situation, immobilized him. After walking away, the attacker drew a gun and shot the fighter once in the head.

10/08/2022 – A manicure was robbed and assaulted by criminals in Lapa, West Zone. The woman was waiting on the sidewalk for a customer when she was approached by the criminals who assaulted her and took her purse. The thieves have not yet been found, but all belongings have been recovered.

Our analysis:

Most robberies happen on the streets to distracted pedestrians. You must always be alert and protect yourself.

• Don’t fiddle with your cell phone and stay alert
• Avoid carrying valuables in bags and backpacks
• If you notice that someone is purposely going the same way as you, walk into a commercial establishment or change sidewalks. If your stalker insists, call the police
• If you are leaving a restaurant, party or commercial point, do not stand on the sidewalk with your cell phone in your hand if you have called a taxi. Wait inside the place where you are until you are sure the driver has arrived
• Definitely never answer the phone or send a text or voice message with your cell phone while walking down the street
• If it’s absolutely vital to answer your phone or send a message, walk into an establishment and pick it up. There, you will be safer and the risk of being robbed is much lower
• And most importantly, never react. Your life is worth far more than anything the criminal may steal

11/08/2022 – A criminal was arrested after a robbery at a Japanese restaurant located on Pinheiros Street, in the West Zone.According to the Military Police, the man entered the place with a paper bag and pretended to be a client using the bathroom. Later, he left the bathroom and announced the robbery, threatening the customers with a simulated gun.

12/08/2022 – A 67-year-old man lost more than R$8,000 after being kidnapped on Luísa Bocchiglieri Ximenes Street, in Interlagos, South Zone. He was leaving his house when his car was stopped by criminals. The driver was placed in the criminals’ car and taken into captivity. Approximately 20 minutes later, a person called the daughter’s phone demanding the amount of R$ 8,000. Frightened, she made transfer via Pix. man works, contacted the family and informed them that he had been released. The elderly man was later released in an alley in the Vila Natal neighborhood, in the Grajaú region.

14/08/2022 – Criminals made a mass robbery in Perdizes, West Zone. They were armed and took cell phones, jewelry and watches from the victims, in addition to their cars.

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.

17/08/2022 – Two criminals who robbed high-end homes in São Paulo were arrested. They were members of a gang that invaded the properties wearing police clothes and even a false search and seizure warrant.

17/08/2022 – A woman was standing in front of a building, in the Perdizes neighborhood, West Zone, when she had her cell phone taken from her hands, quickly, by a criminal in a bicycle.

19/08/2022 – Five men entered an apartment and held a family hostage on Avenida Paulista, West Zone. The São Paulo Public Security Department reported that “the housekeeper of an apartment heard the intercom ring but did not answer. Soon after, the doorbell rang and she was surprised by the perpetrators, two of whom were armed. He even attacked her with a gun.”The suspects fled taking cell phones, accessories, and amounts in several currencies: Reais, Pounds and Euros, in addition to other items.

19/08/2022 – São Paulo police arrested two men who were part of a gang that used fake taxis to steal victims’ cards at nightclubs in the capital. According to the police, the suspects accepted the rides and at the time of payment they exchanged the victims’ cards, thus having access to the passwords and making bank transfers, withdrawals, and purchases.

Our analysis:

At the end of the night, people are tired and sometimes tipsy from drinking alcohol. With this make individuals more vulnerable to certain types of scams. The above news – the exchange of cards – is just one of them. It is necessary to be attentive.

• Never let your credit or debit card be handled by other people
• Don’t let your card out of your field of vision
• Take care that no one observes the typing of your password
• Always check the amount before completing the transaction
• Always request the copy of the sales receipt and check the printed purchase value
• Sign up to receive SMS or email notifications for each transaction made with your card. Thus, it is possible to quickly identify a fraudulent transaction
• Beware of bumps or accidental encounters, which could temporarily lead to losing sight of your card
• In cases of “contactless payment”, call the bank to limit the amount or disable this option
• Even if you are in a hurry, always check that the returned card is really yours
• But if you still fall into a scam, the first step is to immediately notify the financial institution and file a report

23/08/2022 – Fake delivery men broke into and robbed a residential building in Lapa, West Zone. The crime took place on R. Croata, around 15h. According to a resident, one of the men said he would deliver a refrigerator. The doorman allowed entry into the building. Another appeared at the entrance and informed that he would assist in the delivery of the goods. This way, he was also able to enter the building, where at least two properties were stolen.

24/08/2022 – Criminals in a stolen car closed off a driver and took the luxury vehicle she was driving. The crime took place on R. Orlando Murgel, in the Jabaquara region, South Zone, around 13h00, and was caught by security cameras. The criminals forced the victim to get out of the vehicle she was driving. Armed, they demanded the passenger door open and the driver to start the engine. The suspects later fled with the victim’s vehicle and left her on the sidewalk. The car used in the attack, which was also stolen, was abandoned at the scene.

TRENDS & ADVICE