Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety

[Perkele]

Sperto.

I beg to differ. UPP isn't the solution for favela problem.

Also no need to wait till World Cup for military intervention, starting today the local "national guard" will be deployed to ensure the safety of the city. This actually means that there will be more crime in areas which have been relatively quiet until now.

Be careful out there.

[Sperto]

The UPP pacification has done a lot of good to the favelas in Rio. Unfortunately many favelas are so huge that they are difficult to control. The last week has been messy. Another UPP PM has been shot, shootings in Complexo Alemão and shootings in Rocinha. There has also been some shootings in the Zona Sul favelas Pavão, Pavãozinho, Tabajara, Babilônia and Chapeu de Mangueira.

I applause the street justice made in Flamengo and Botafogo.

They propably manage to keep the city in a decent order during the world cup with the help of the military.

[Java Man]

In the past you would see 4-5 of these favela rats and they would just hit and run. The punk caught on camera was persistent and after he stole the bag was in no hurry to exit the scene. It is this entitlement attitude which is dangerous. Why do you have nice things and we don't? Unfortunately, once a country starts down this path, there is no turning back.

The people respond. The host of "Cidade Alerta," the sensationalist news program, stated recently that he has never seen so many videos of people administering street justice. It all started with the video of the 17 yr old in Flamengo, naked, beaten and shackled to a post by his neck. Since then, many similar videos of muggers getting beat up by people on the street. The Brazilian populace are fed up with these juveniles getting arrested, and released. That TV host keeps repeating daily how there is no criminal justice in Brazil and how the laws protect criminals. The Brazilian legislature recently failed to pass a law lowering the age for juvenile crime. It wouldn't matter if that law had passed, as Brazilian judges do not follow the letter of the law. They make it up as they go along, thus circumventing the intent of the legislature. The attached article was written in 2008, still holds true today.

http://www.brazzil.com/info/188-febr...008/10042.html

[Exec Talent]

Many people posting here have noted how expensive Rio has become. Now imagine that you only made about $300 a month.

The problem in Rio is that now there are many unskilled labor (construction) jobs. They will go away. Brazilians do not save and have a credit card default rate of 28.

Rising prices, low stagnant wages, unemployment, no access to credit. I actually think crime in Rio will be worse than it was in 2000. 2005.

It has been nice to walk around Rio and feel relatively secure. This is changing. As others have stated, be vigilant. Don't let your guard down.

[Perkele]

I'd like to add my 2 cents.

Rio de Janeiro crime rate is increasing again due the fact that minors, under 18, have discovered that local laws can't punish them. Since Brazilian legislation doesn't have any means of punishing minors the trend is that most of the drug dealing is done by minors and there are even reports that there are minor drug lords too.

Thus, if being robbed by a minor be very careful since they will get away from murder. Your life means nothing to these rats. In my opinion the police should start doing the street cleaning operations just like they used to.

Also the favela pacification is a huge failure. There are gunfights on major favelas. For example in Complexo Alemao, where criminals are attacking police and killing them. There simply isn't enough manpower to contain these favelas. Also there is a strong rumor that favela rats, who escaped the police when UPPs (police pacification unit) were created, are returning back to the city from Baixada and Niteroi.

So, if they don't use military to keep the city calm during the World Cup we can expect a carnage. Although I have heard that there is preliminary order of using armed forces for security of the city.

There are plenty of good advice here, so just don't carry anything that you're not willing to lose.

[Exec Talent]

In Copacabana, security cam captures woman getting mugged, and knocked down. She chases after the thief. Occurred in broad daylight, looks like Av. N. S. Copacabana. I wonder if she reported it.

http://globotv.globo.com/infoglobo/o...abana/3197621/

In the past you would see 4-5 of these favela rats and they would just hit and run. The punk caught on camera was persistent and after he stole the bag was in no hurry to exit the scene. It is this entitlement attitude which is dangerous. Why do you have nice things and we don't? Unfortunately, once a country starts down this path, there is no turning back.

[Sperto]

In Copacabana, security cam captures woman getting mugged, and knocked down. She chases after the thief. Occurred in broad daylight, looks like Av. N. S. Copacabana. I wonder if she reported it.

http://globotv.globo.com/infoglobo/o...abana/3197621/

Twice this year I've seen similar muggings in Copacabana. Both times on Sundays and both times close to the Metro station Cardeal Arcoverde. Scumbags from Zona Norte leaving the beach heading to the metro. Taking the opportunity to mug some innocent people before going home.

[Jan 156]

In Copacabana, security cam captures woman getting mugged, and knocked down. She chases after the thief. Occurred in broad daylight, looks like Av. N. S. Copacabana. I wonder if she reported it.

http://globotv.globo.com/infoglobo/o...abana/3197621/

I think everyone should watch this. It is exactly how robberies occur in Copacabana. The difference with this latest wave is the large number of youths involved in a single robbery. Notice that passers.why barely give it a second glance (even though the victim looks very respectable and the robbers do not). It happens very fast, before anyone has time to gather their wits.

Without geting all paranoid, how to respond to the threat? Don't think things are 'safe' because it is daylight or a well lit street and there are many people about. If your gut tells you a group of people look dodgy, AVOID. Cross over, go the other way, go into a shop, or run if you have to. Some people don't take evasive action for fear of being thought (or thinking of themselves) as racist or prejudiced. It is not. If you smell potential trouble, get out of there quickly (Crossing over or going into a shop is discreet and doesn't attract attention: but it gets you out of harm's way in most cases.) If you are robbed, what about reporting it? The purpose of reporting it is to get a written statement from the Tourist Police (the process can take several hours) that you can later submit to your insurance company. It does not generally serve much purpose beyond that. Thieves will often disappear once they get something of value, so if you have to carry something like a wad of cash you've just withdrawn or a smartphone, stick it inside your pants or your trainers or somewhere less accessible and have a smaller (but still 'valuable') amount of cash or cheap disposable phone in an easy pocket. Finally, just because some low-life scum are targetting people in Copacabana, remember they are a very tiny proportion of people. Most people are good people. A shopkeeper will likely go out of their way to help you if you have been robbed. People don't interfere in a robbery because they could die as a result, not because they don't care: protecting yourself is your responsibility and no-one else's. Once you adjust to these facts of life, keep your 360 degree vision switched on, and then relax and enjoy your day!

[Java Man]

In Copacabana, security cam captures woman getting mugged, and knocked down. She chases after the thief. Occurred in broad daylight, looks like Av. N. S. Copacabana. I wonder if she reported it.

http://globotv.globo.com/infoglobo/o...abana/3197621/

[Java Man]

Today's Oglobo reporting on the Bermuda Gang in Copacabana. The gang is call this because of the Bermuda board shorts they wear. The gang is composed of minors, at a minimum a group of 5, but up to 20. They walk around, shouting and pretending to fight each other as a distraction in order to steal personal items. These attacks are occurring all over Copa at any time of day, but more frequently on weekends. What is more disturbing, according to the report, is that these groups are more numerous and more violent. In one incident, a young woman was surrounded by 15 youths, knocked to the ground and had her purse stolen. They're also hitting stores, and people sitting at the Kiosks on the beach. An underground bathroom attendant on Copa beach was robbed at knife point. They're stealing cell phones, purses, gold chains, anything of value. Be careful out there.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/as-gangu...abana-11827877

[Tonyels]

It is full, inverted and held by the tapered end. Hold firmly and swing with force. I left Help and was walking alone on Av Atlantica near Santa Clara when I was accosted. I turned quickly and as hard as I could hit the guy on the head. He never saw it coming and staggered away. I didn't wait for what was next and go the hell out of there. BTW, the bottle did not break.

Interesting. Thanks, for sharing. I usually carry an umbrella about 18 inches long. I have yet to use it in self defense.

[Exec Talent]

You use a water bottle as a weapon? Please explain how. Thanks.

It is full, inverted and held by the tapered end. Hold firmly and swing with force. I left Help and was walking alone on Av Atlantica near Santa Clara when I was accosted. I turned quickly and as hard as I could hit the guy on the head. He never saw it coming and staggered away. I didn't wait for what was next and go the hell out of there. BTW, the bottle did not break.

[Papi Muy Rico]

You use a water bottle as a weapon? Please explain how. Thanks.

Crime definitely is up. This week, my GF and I were walking about 7 PM on Copacabana Beach and a guy assaulted a group of gringas and took a watch from one of them. Typical favela rat who took off running away from the beach with his loot.

I am in all areas of Rio all times during the year and the best piece of advice I can offer is don't have anything on you worth stealing. I use a cheap phone, dress down and never carry a lot of money. If you are into bling. Bling at home. If I am going to be walking in a questionable area I carry a full water bottle and carry it like a club. I have had to use it a couple of time several years ago but not recently. One thing I have notice recently is the absence of the shit on the shoes guys.

[Exec Talent]

I had an interesting discussion with Paulo, a beach vendor, today. Some of you may know him. He is the guy who walks around saying want to buy a hat?

He told me that the police are cracking down on beach vendors because they associate them with the favela rats who are robbing people. He said that he has been selling on the beach for 33 years and never had a problem until recently when three guys attacked him because he wouldn't give them free hats. Been noticing many of the Lixo Zero patrol and people picking up garbage on the Copacabana Beach including one very hot garbage woman. I told a colleague I thought she looked good and when he told her she turned around smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

Also wanted to mention for those who like riding bikes be careful. There have been some reports recently of thieves near Flamengo Park attacking riders and stealing their bikes.

[Exec Talent]

Guys, should there maybe be a report in the Links to Reports of Distinction purely about safety?

Maybe you Sperto or any other member with much experience in Rio could write a small, yearly updated "101. What to do and do not do in Rio" guide?

It's sad when guys that maybe only have the chance to travel one time a year, get caught in something bad, just because they did not have the latest info.

Yes, this thread and RTFF is always a good thing to do, but a small and updated, separate safety pdf or link / something in the Reports of Distinction could maybe be a good thing?

Think about it. What if the effort just saves 1 single member from getting into harms way each year, would it not be worth it?

Best regards, Ken Apples

Crime definitely is up. This week, my GF and I were walking about 7 PM on Copacabana Beach and a guy assaulted a group of gringas and took a watch from one of them. Typical favela rat who took off running away from the beach with his loot.

I am in all areas of Rio all times during the year and the best piece of advice I can offer is don't have anything on you worth stealing. I use a cheap phone, dress down and never carry a lot of money. If you are into bling. Bling at home. If I am going to be walking in a questionable area I carry a full water bottle and carry it like a club. I have had to use it a couple of time several years ago but not recently. One thing I have notice recently is the absence of the shit on the shoes guys.