Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety

[Spidy]

Yes, but if you watch the video, you can see that when it was all said and done, she still had her phone in the end.

Okay, my bad, I didn't catch that she still had her cell phone.

Not exactly the clearest of videos, hence why I said, "I thought that was a little bit of an odd statement?" coming from her. Which kinda, give me pause for thought, when she said, "Ele quis me machucar e isso choca (He wanted to hurt me and it shocks me)."

They want your money, not your life. ... As for SF, I can second that even normal Colombian guys tread carefully. The first time I mentioned it to my Colombian friend his eyes lit up and portrayed a clear sense of extreme apprehension. He warned of its dangers, not being there late at night alone, etc. The place is dangerous and there are only so many things one can do to mitigate risk. ...

What's funny about how I read / interpreted this story, was that at the same time, I had just previously read the post by TiaVoyage25 entitled "They want your money, not your life", in the Bogota thread and thought to myself, how correct he is and that the woman's comments in the story were so incongruent with most tourist unfortunate interactions with Rio street thugs, muggers and robbers, with them just rolling up and wanting to "take your life ".

Even though she said, he wanted to "take her life", I interpreted the stabbings as a result of his attempts to get her to release and give up the phone and weren't intended to simply "take her life", as she claims.

IMHO, I think, if he wanted to really take her life, he'd have done so and probably with greater intent.

[Spidy]

This crime & safety story borrowed from the Rio thread, posted here: http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2672563

O Dia:
https://odia.ig.com.br/rio-de-janeir...opacabana.html

Watched a few times and I gotta say she's pretty spry and sprightly (also lucky) for have been stabbed five times with a "knife". Begs the question, how sharp was that "knife"?

She also says he didn't want to rob her, but yet he took her cell phone. I thought that was a little bit of an odd statement?

[Jimmy Boy 99]

Hello,

I live in Switzerland, I speak German, my English is not the best (that's the reason I never wrote before.).

(maybe it's the wrong thread, but I didn't wanted to write in the report-thread).

I'm planning to fly to Rio, I discovered coincidentally, that there is a BRT from the Galeo-airport to Tijuca.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransCarioca

An at this station, at.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esta%C...e_de_Carvalho_(BRT).

I could take the metro, line 2 to the Centro. It seems to me a cheaper and faster solution than go with taxi, and it should be also safe.

Any experience?

There is a public bus that goes from Galeao to Santos Dumont and I believe goes on to Copacabana. Ask at the tourist information counter where to get it. You might also check what Uber will charge assuming you have an account and have Wi-fi. On my last trip a regular taxi driver said he would charge me the same fare as Uber so I went with him, so you might try that too.

[Vagabundo1]

Sr Nounce is correct as always. I used to hit Rio with a 40 lb or less pack and a 10 lb carryon (5. 11 Rush 24, Moab 10, Moab 6). But I have accumulated stuff, alas.

I have no experience but I can see that you need to change from BRT to Metro which may not be the best thing to do for safety. If you travel light, this may work, otherwise it's work if you don't know where the elevator is or when there is no elevator.

[Vagabundo1]

This is excellent advice.

Water bottle as a (non lethal) weapon is great! And goes with walking.

Thanks.

I carry a full water bottle with me and have used it like a club (twice) to break free of muggers. Given the number of trips, length of stays, neighborhoods visited and the fact that I walk everywhere, this is not really a lot. If you come from a country where it is always safe to walk the streets regardless of time of day, you need to adjust your situational awareness. In most cases, if you stay alert you will be fine. Most important is an escape route. If you are in Copacabana on Avenida Atlntica and you walk too close to the buildings, you do not have an escape route. Stay near the street. Once I was coming back from Monte Carlo and muggers surrounded me on three sides. The fourth side was the Windsor Hotel. I ducked into the hotel and called a taxi.

There is good advice here on how to dress, not making yourself a target and securing your money and credit cards. My other advice is to limit your alcohol consumption unless you are in a controlled environment with someone who is not drinking watching your back. Walking the streets alone impaired is like wearing a sign around your neck that says rob me.

[Nounce]

...Any experience?

I have no experience but I can see that you need to change from BRT to Metro which may not be the best thing to do for safety. If you travel light, this may work, otherwise it's work if you don't know where the elevator is or when there is no elevator.

[Tarado]

Hello,

I live in Switzerland, I speak German, my English is not the best (that's the reason I never wrote before.).

(maybe it's the wrong thread, but I didn't wanted to write in the report-thread).

I'm planning to fly to Rio, I discovered coincidentally, that there is a BRT from the Galeo-airport to Tijuca.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransCarioca

An at this station, at.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esta%C...e_de_Carvalho_(BRT).

I could take the metro, line 2 to the Centro. It seems to me a cheaper and faster solution than go with taxi, and it should be also safe.

Any experience?

[Exec Talent]

I carry a full water bottle with me and have used it like a club (twice) to break free of muggers. Given the number of trips, length of stays, neighborhoods visited and the fact that I walk everywhere, this is not really a lot. If you come from a country where it is always safe to walk the streets regardless of time of day, you need to adjust your situational awareness. In most cases, if you stay alert you will be fine. Most important is an escape route. If you are in Copacabana on Avenida Atlântica and you walk too close to the buildings, you do not have an escape route. Stay near the street. Once I was coming back from Monte Carlo and muggers surrounded me on three sides. The fourth side was the Windsor Hotel. I ducked into the hotel and called a taxi.

There is good advice here on how to dress, not making yourself a target and securing your money and credit cards. My other advice is to limit your alcohol consumption unless you are in a controlled environment with someone who is not drinking watching your back. Walking the streets alone impaired is like wearing a sign around your neck that says rob me.

[Nordico]

Where do you carry your passport, since it will not fit in the little pockets your sister sewed into your pants? I never carry my passport around. Too many problems if it lost or stolen. Just make a color copy of it and the visa stamp page. If I do have to take it with me for some reason, I put it in the pocket my sister sewed on the inside of the back of my pants just below the belt line (tried to attach a picture of it but was not able to). The pocket is big enough to hold the passport and lots of money and credit cards. Plus it is a lot less obvious than a money belt.

I'm not really worried about losing my passport. I'm pretty sure I would get a new one in two or three days from my country's consulate in Sao Paulo. I keep it in the front pocket of my jeans.

To be honest I WOULD be worried wearing a money belt as nice as the ones on your link. Your friendly Rio mugger might be tempted to relieve your from that belt. Just because he likes the belt, LOL.

There are 15 to 20 thousand cell phones stolen in SP every month, but I have never seen any article about stolen belts, LOL. It's possible, of course. I don't have those fancy belts with snake skin, but a simple one that looks like any other belt.

[Jimmy Boy 99]

A family member, who is really good with sewing machine, made me these small pockets in my trousers. They are somewhat larger than a credit card and secured with velcro. I can put two or three credit cards and 6-7 bills in it. Then I have my Bullhide money belts, which are not cheap, but the quality is excellent. https://www.bullhidebelts.com/collections/money-belts.

I always carry my passport with me.

Where do you carry your passport, since it will not fit in the little pockets your sister sewed into your pants? I never carry my passport around. Too many problems if it lost or stolen. Just make a color copy of it and the visa stamp page. If I do have to take it with me for some reason, I put it in the pocket my sister sewed on the inside of the back of my pants just below the belt line (tried to attach a picture of it but was not able to). The pocket is big enough to hold the passport and lots of money and credit cards. Plus it is a lot less obvious than a money belt.

[Sperto]

https://www.clothingarts.com/collect...et_proof_pants

I have a couple of pairs of these pants. I usually wear them when I'm traveling because everything is secure on me so and I have no worries.

Nice-looking pants. I never had any problems with pickpocketing but I'm sure those pants works well in normal situations. However I would never wear pants like that in very crowded situations, E. G Carnival in Salvador, Cordao Bola Preta in Rio. In those situations, more pockets means more thieves interested in emptying your pockets.

For newbies in Copacabana their main problem isn't pickpocketing, it's getting robbed. Extra buttons om your pockets won't help. I prefer to put large bills in a small pouch, attached with a string to my underwear, and stuck the pouch inside the underwear. Small bills in a mini-wallet. The less I have in my wallets the safer I feel.

[Xpartan]

Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month Im going to stay in Copacabana and its not always safe at night time.

To be honest I WOULD be worried wearing a money belt as nice as the ones on your link. Your friendly Rio mugger might be tempted to relieve your from that belt. Just because he likes the belt, LOL.

[Rio Bob]

Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month Im going to stay in Copacabana and its not always safe at night time.

https://www.clothingarts.com/collect...et_proof_pants

I have a couple of pairs of these pants. I usually wear them when I'm traveling because everything is secure on me so and I have no worries.

[Nordico]

Why so many hidden compartments? Is Brazil that dangerous? Not trying to be funny, I've never been there but highly interested because the women are beautiful.

Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month I’m going to stay in Copacabana and it’s not always safe at night time.

[UniversalX]

What did you do when you lost your passport card? I lost mine in May.

Passport Book and Passport Card are two different forms of ID. Both can be ordered at the same time but are not tied to each other. Loss of one does not cancel the other. Passport Card can be used as a form of ID when traveling however it's primary purpose is for crossing land border Mexico / Canada and Sea Ports-of-Entry from the Caribbean / Bermuda only. https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...port/card.html

Due to its credit card size I use Passport Card for ID purposes for all international travel. I tend to find it easier to carry than a laminated copy of Passport Book Page, plus it is an official form of ID.

Since both are not tied to each other if one is loss you can use the other to facilitate acquiring a replacement if necessary. Reporting your passport lost or stolen does not automatically replace your passport. You will need to follow the directions to Replace a Passport https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...st-stolen.html