01/09/2023 – A man was held captive for three hours in Jaraguá, North Zone, after being kidnapped by a gang that uses the “love scam”. One of those involved in the crime was arrested. The victim, a 29-year-old merchant, had made an appointment through a relationship app. When he arrived at the agreed place, he was surprised by the trio still inside his luxury car.
01/09/2023 – A man was arrested for sexual harassment after masturbating inside a bus next to a woman, in the Jardim Paulista neighborhood, West Zone. A young woman saw the 52-year-old man touching himself and alerted a passenger who was sitting next to her, with a message written on her cell phone notepad.
02/09/2023 – Two young women maneuvering a car were robbed by three criminals on two motorcycles in the Campo Limpo neighborhood, South Zone. Security camera footage shows the moment when bandits on two motorcycles approached and robbed two young women, they stole cell phones and jewelry.
05/09/2023 – The Civil Police arrested a woman who worked as a pharmacist and sold expired drugs and other controlled ones, without having the proper special authorization from Anvisa. The arrest took place at the pharmacy where she worked in Jardim Ângela, South Zone. According to agents, several expired supplies and medicines were found.
06/09/2023 – A criminal, disguised as a street vendor, robbed a driver under the Cruzeiro do Sul bridge, on Marginal Tietê, in the Luz neighborhood, downtown São Paulo. Security camera footage shows the moment a street vendor passes by the victim’s vehicle. Then, another man, carrying bags of cookies, throws the products on the ground, pulls out a gun and announces the robbery.
07/09/2023 – A businessman was beaten during the robbery of a chocolate store on Rua Padre Adelino, in the Belém neighborhood, East Zone. In the security camera images, it is possible to see when the criminal enters the store and announces the robbery. Afterwards, the franchise owner leaves the counter and tries to escape the robber, who retaliates with punches and kicks. The robber drags the merchant’s body and starts taking items from the store. In addition to the attacks, the victim suffered financial losses.
12/09/2023 – A criminal was recorded by security cameras stealing car batteries in downtown São Paulo. In the footage it is possible to see the man opening the hoods of several cars, taking the batteries, and escaping calmly. This is the fourth time that the same criminal has committed this crime in the same location.
14/09/2023 – The house where the current Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad (PT), lives was targeted by robbers in the Indianópolis neighborhood, South Zone. The minister stated that the criminals broke down the gate but were unable to enter and fled. Haddad and his daughter were in the property at the time. So far, no one has been arrested. According to Haddad, the attempted robbery occurred around 05:00. When an employee arrived at work, she noticed that the gate had been broken into. The minister went to check the security camera recordings and discovered that a motorcycle stopped at the door of the house at around 03:00. A person came down and broke down the gate with some tool. Then a car arrived, and four armed men got out. They passed through the gate but did not invade the residence and left.
14/09/2023 – São Paulo councilor Adilson Amadeu (União) was the victim of a kidnapping in the Parque Continental region, West Zone. He has now been released and is doing well. According to the councilor’s press office, the politician was on his way to a church, located on Tupuju Street, when he was approached by three criminals, one of them armed. The kidnappers entered the politician’s vehicle, drove him around the city and took him captive, in a community in the Jardim João 23 neighborhood.
16/09/2023 – Two armed criminals broke into a pharmacy in São Paulo to steal a specific medicine, Ozempic. It is used to treat diabetes and is also highly sought after by people who want to lose weight. The medicine is expensive, and the suspicion is that thieves wanted to sell the boxes on the black market.
17/09/2023 – A man was arrested after stabbing two people in the Cidade Dutra region, South Zone. One victim died. According to preliminary information from the Military Police, a fight between those involved had started during a family party. So far, there is no further information about the attack.
18/09/2023 – A man was shot and killed by military police officers on Patagonia Street, in the Americanópolis neighborhood, South Zone. According to the Military Police, a team was called and located a man with a knife. The criminal then tried to attack the officers, who shot him. The man died at the scene.
19/09/2022 – A couple was robbed on the sidewalk of a condominium, in the Bosque da Saúde neighborhood, South Zone. The building’s security cameras captured the moment the couple was attacked by one of the robbers. Then, a second criminal arrives at the scene and begins searching one of the victims. The thieves then enter the couple’s car, search the vehicle, and leave.
20/09/2022 – A criminal was shot by a security guard during an attempted robbery on Avenida Rio Branco, in front of Cracolândia, downtown São Paulo. According to information, the criminal tried to steal the security guard’s cell phone, who at the time of the attack was carrying out an armed escort of small amounts. The criminal, who is a drug user, when he saw that the security guard was armed, tried to steal the weapon. The security guard reacted and fired.
20/09/2022 – A man died after being attacked on the mezzanine of Luz station around 19:00. He had a head injury, according to police reports. According to the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM), the criminal fled. According to the police report, security guards found the victim’s body with a head wound.
22/09/2023 – Actress Gabriela Lopes, 29 years old, was the victim of a robbery in São Paulo. The robbers broke the window of her car. Through social media, Gabi reported that she was going to an appointment with a friend, when the suspect broke the car window to take their cell phones.
22/09/2023 – Two armed criminals tried to rob a vehicle in the Cambuci neighborhood, South Zone. A resident of an upper-class building was driving out of the garage when he was approached by armed criminals. The Military Police were patrolling and, when they saw the approach, they intervened. There was a chase and a shooting. A weapon belonging to the bandits was seized, but no one was arrested.
24/09/2023 – A thief wearing a surgical mask broke into two houses in the North Zone of São Paulo, during the early hours of the morning. He managed to enter the first house by jumping over the wall and entering through the window, then he managed to take a ladder to rob the neighboring house. He took computers, video games, jewelry and semi-jewelry and then fled. The loss exceeds R$40,000.
25/09/2023 – An off duty military police officer was injured during a shooting with other off-duty military police officers and robbers on Rua das Macieiras, in Casa Verde, North Zone. Two criminals who were on a motorcycle tried to rob the Military Police (PM) officer, who was off duty and riding another motorcycle. Two police officers, also off duty and who were passing by, responded to the robbery. There was a shootout between the police and the bandits. The criminals stole a car and fled.
26/09/2022 – A couple was robbed inside the family car that was parked outside the building where they live in Vila Mariana, South Zone. The couple was approached by two armed criminals on two motorcycles. The crime took place at 8:00 and lasted less than a minute. The criminals fled with the victims’ belongings.
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).
