Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety

[Poucolouco]

28 Sept 2009, For the second time in three months, around five criminals armed with guns, and brandishing a granade, invaded the French Restaurant “Le Ble” on rua Xavier of the Silveira. The gang herded 15 clients and staff into the kitchen where they were robbed of purses and personal property while other members of the group stole the cash register.

The robbery occurred around midnight and lasted around 15 minutes. The group fled in a van, with the marking of Rosina. Witnesses said that a VW Golf auto and a motorcycle gave cover to the assailants as they fled.

Elsewhere in Copacabana three armed bandits wearing uniforms of the Gas Company (CEG) – raided a condominium at rua Francisco Otaviano número 92 (edificio Solar da Praia, Arporador.) At 8:30 a.m. The gang managed to fool the doorman after stating that they would measure the gas consumption of the building. They locked him in the bathroom and proceded to the seventh floor. Then for the next hour and a half the trio methodically robbed apartments of electronics, cash and jewelry. They succeded in raiding eight of the 14 apartments in the building. At least 15 persons were victims of the gang. Officers of the Battalion of Operations of the Special Police (Bope) swept the apartments in search of the thieves, but they were not found.

[Poucolouco]

The week I was in Copacabana, there were news of a few tourists robberies at knife point on the beach in broad day light.

One night I got out of the internet cafe right behind the Copacabana hotel at about 1AM...]

Interesting report. Did this happen recently?

[Hughdad]

The week I was in Copacabana, there were news of a few tourists robberies at knife point on the beach in broad day light.

One night I got out of the internet cafe right behind the Copacabana hotel at about 1AM. I was on my way back to the Copacabana which was right there. I was very cautious but never thought anyone could rob me along the white-painted walls of the Cobacapana.

It was dark and raining lightly. I stopped at a restaurant full of people to buy a pack of cigarette. When I was half way to the Copacabana hotel, a black guy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my collar. He was hanging on to me with all his strength while mumbling something repetitively in Portugeese. I was not sure if he was begging or threatenting me.

I shouted to him to let me go and called out to policia, but he kept hanging on. I grabbed his arms and turned him around and around to disorienting him. At this time 3 to 4 other black guys came out of the dark and ran toward us.

Thoughts raced through my mind. I was really scared of being knifed by a bunch of thugs in the midlle of the night in Rio and noone knew where I was. I could die alone in the rain on this dark street in Rio.

I used all my strength to knock the guy's hands off my shirt and started running fast towards the main street. They chased me a while then gave up.

I came to a police booth and reported it. The guy there talked on the radio. Soon 2 police cars arrived with a sergeant. They took my complaint then offered to drive me around looking for the assailants. I declined. They must have gone away. The police scoured the area in their patrol cars. They posted a patrol car at that street corner for the next 2 days and night, flashing its beacons.

I talked to the restaurant owner the next day, telling him what happened. He was really scared. He said I was lucky I did not get killed that night.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

I have been reading the same advice here forever - take a taxi everywhere at night.

[Perkele]

Hey maybe ease up guys? Perkele didn't say it was his opinion. The idea that it is the general view of Brasilians is rather OTT. But it does help to balance the equally twattish view that some people form that 'prostitution is different here - it's completely acceptable.' No it's not. It's maybe accepted as a fact of life. And a necessary business tolerance in Copa that makes money from said gringos. But there's plenty of Brasilians who are as bigoted about it as politicians and bible-thumpers back home.

The other thing is that we think it is 'everywhere' cos we scope out the city on that basis. There's plenty of Brasilians who don't give prostitution any thought, especially if they stay out if Copa. Though even Copa has a very respectable middle class that closes its eyes to such things. You could hear not dissimilar 'sentiments' expressed back home in a US bible belt or a UK pub frequented by Harriet Harman -type illiberals. It doesn't mean such people would pick up a loaded gun and go punter hunting. But punting is not a respectable hobby. If you want to be loved, maybe consider organising soup runs for the homeless.

Sorry about the rant. But it doesn't make much sense to vent one's anger about public intolerance against another forum member, does it?

Finally someone got it.

I've been living in Brasil for several years and I mostly live aongst them. Believe me, they look down every single *****monger. They would do just about anything to be able to stop sexual tourism and there is not much compassion in their minds for poor mongers who get themselves in trouble with GDPs.

My opinion is, *****s won't make good girlfriends. Nice toys, that one never shouldn't keep too long. We're paying for them to GO AWAY in the morning.

[One Wing Low]

The week I was in Copacabana, there were news of a few tourists robberies at knife point on the beach in broad day light.

One night I got out of the internet cafe right behind the Copacabana hotel at about 1AM. I was on my way back to the Copacabana which was right there. I was very cautious but never thought anyone could rob me along the white-painted walls of the Cobacapana.

It was dark and raining lightly. I stopped at a restaurant full of people to buy a pack of cigarette. When I was half way to the Copacabana hotel, a black guy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my collar. He was hanging on to me with all his strength while mumbling something repetitively in Portugeese. I was not sure if he was begging or threatenting me.

I shouted to him to let me go and called out to policia, but he kept hanging on. I grabbed his arms and turned him around and around to disorienting him. At this time 3 to 4 other black guys came out of the dark and ran toward us.

Thoughts raced through my mind. I was really scared of being knifed by a bunch of thugs in the midlle of the night in Rio and noone knew where I was. I could die alone in the rain on this dark street in Rio.

I used all my strength to knock the guy's hands off my shirt and started running fast towards the main street. They chased me a while then gave up.

I came to a police booth and reported it. The guy there talked on the radio. Soon 2 police cars arrived with a sergeant. They took my complaint then offered to drive me around looking for the assailants. I declined. They must have gone away. The police scoured the area in their patrol cars. They posted a patrol car at that street corner for the next 2 days and night, flashing its beacons.

I talked to the restaurant owner the next day, telling him what happened. He was really scared. He said I was lucky I did not get killed that night.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Jan 156]

I discussed about this murder with my brasilian friends and all of them were saying that all mongers who come to Brasil to do GDPs deserve to die. Not one single soul felt any compassion for this swiss guy.

Hey maybe ease up guys? Perkele didn't say it was his opinion. The idea that it is the general view of Brasilians is rather OTT. But it does help to balance the equally twattish view that some people form that 'prostitution is different here - it's completely acceptable.' No it's not. It's maybe accepted as a fact of life. And a necessary business tolerance in Copa that makes money from said gringos. But there's plenty of Brasilians who are as bigoted about it as politicians and bible-thumpers back home.

The other thing is that we think it is 'everywhere' cos we scope out the city on that basis. There's plenty of Brasilians who don't give prostitution any thought, especially if they stay out if Copa. Though even Copa has a very respectable middle class that closes its eyes to such things. You could hear not dissimilar 'sentiments' expressed back home in a US bible belt or a UK pub frequented by Harriet Harman -type illiberals. It doesn't mean such people would pick up a loaded gun and go punter hunting. But punting is not a respectable hobby. If you want to be loved, maybe consider organising soup runs for the homeless.

Sorry about the rant. But it doesn't make much sense to vent one's anger about public intolerance against another forum member, does it?

[Jesuscola]

do you mean he left you alone when you showed him a knife or what else ?

he just was there on the corner or he was walking towards you ?

happy it ended good and you was not robbed.

i didn't have a knife. i meant that i was 6 inches taller and 50 lbs. heavier than him, though.

he stepped out of the shadows as i was walking down the street. he asked for a cigarette, and i said, "no." they generally do this first to get you to stop. i kept walking, so he had no choice but to follow along beside me. he kept trying to use english. i kept telling him i didn't understand and talking to him in portuguese only. he was nervous. this is not the first time this has happened to me. i handle it like this:

1) i keep calm and keep walking at the same speed.
2) i only talk to him in portuguese and say, "i don't understand" when he speaks english.
3) i treat him like i would treat someone who was trying to start a fire with wet wood--in other words, like he's doing something that plainly makes no sense. he's nervous. my reality is stronger than his.

i pulled a knife on one mugger years ago (i told him, "eu não sou seu 'friend.'"), pepper sprayed another duo one night, got in one's face and cussed him out in port. behind help (when i suddenly found my pepper had stopped spraying), and now two i treated like the above and they apologized. (the other time it was two guys, and one guy said, "next time just say, 'hey, i'm brazilian!'" and gave me the thumbs up. ridiculous.)

i'm not particularly advising anyone else do this. i don't want to see anyone get stabbed. it's just what i do.

[Eros74]

But I had about 6 inches and 50 pounds on him.

Watch yourselves out there.

Do you mean he left you alone when you showed him a knife or what else ?

He just was there on the corner or he was walking towards you ?

Happy it ended good and you was not robbed.

[Jesuscola]

7:30 at night, some bald dirtbag just tried to rob me on the corner of N.S. Copacabana and Xavier da Silveira. He kept his right hand hidden the whole time. I kept speaking Portuguese even though he was trying to talk to me in English. I told him I had no money and kept walking. He asked how long I've been here and I told him years. He said, "Please, forgive me," in English and left me alone. But I had about 6 inches and 50 pounds on him.

Watch yourselves out there.

[Hughdad]

you'll never see coverage like that by us media.

did you ever see the coverage of the guy that covered himself in amazing body armor and his associated was in a tank? he was walking alongside the tank and just firing round after round and rep001tering the police. then when he stopped and looked down at his weapon a police sniper made a perfect shot to the only exposed small space on the back of his head. they then storm the tank and took out his accomplice. was amazing footage

[Jan 156]

"É a hora’ " It's time.

Friday Morning 9/25/09
Three bad guys attempts to steal a postal van in Tijuca

Nice one! I liked the bit with the hat.

I've stayed in Tijuca and find it quite a safe area. Sometimes seen police patting street crims down as I walked to VM. But watching the video footage I couldn't help but think the TV companies must miss the day of Bus 174 . . . They totally love this crime-as-it-happens stuff!

[Java Man]

"É a hora’ " It's time.

Friday Morning 9/25/09
Three bad guys attempts to steal a postal van in Tijuca, (NOT Barra de Tijuca.) Unfortunately for them a police patrol was passing by at the moment. Shots are fired and all but one manage to get away. Shot in the belly and brandishing a hand grenade, Sérgio Ferreira Pinto Júnior, 24, manages to get into a pharmacy and takes a female hostage. Hostage negotiators arrive on scene and after about an hour Sergio exits the pharmacy with his hostage. Negotiations continue on the street in front of media.

Unknown to Sergio, there is a police sniper across the street on the 4th floor.
The hostage is nervous and at a moment when she bends over to vomit, the order is given: "É a hora’." A single shot rings out and goes through Sergio's head. The hostage is rescued unharmed. ALL caught on video:

http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player...ANEIRO,00.html

Photos:
http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/galerias/geradas
/O_DIA_ONLINE_acao_fulminante_da_pm_531.html

They even identify the police sniper! You'll never see coverage like that by US media.

[Amerioca]

EA hit the nail on it's head! However, if one goes there long enough, one will be jacked. It is inevitable. The questions is how serious.

[El Austriaco]

This might be a good time for us to put our collective heads together and come up with some Rio Safety Best Practices to be compiled and posted in Reports of Distinction.

As a matter of fact, there is one fairly comprehensive report on Safety Best Practices in RoD already, written by Sandman0011:

http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...&postcount=721

Personally, I have also written a very detailed one (back in 2004). Still, I think that everything holds just as true now as it did back then.

http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...&postcount=257

Specifically in respect of what happened to the Swiss guy, I'd just like to add the following. Not that a lot of detailed information is available as to what exactly transpired, but for me, the no-nos here are the following:

Single biggest mistake: Turning a hooker into his GF (been there, made that mistake, too; luckily, I am here to tell my story, though things could have gone very wrong). In other words, not only crossing the fine line between GFE and "GF" experience (http://internationalsexguide.info/fo...postcount=1050) once, but fully emigrating to the hooker GF experience.

Big mistake No. 2 (IMHO): taking the hooker to his residence in the first place. I know, I know, some mongers are really into the overnighters and everything and like to stay in apartments, and I can see the benefits of it, absolutely. Still, the fact remains: she doesn't know where you live (plus what kind of belongings you have, your name, etc.), her chances of planning to come after you dwindle drastically. I used to take GDPs to my hotel, too, in the past, but since I stopped that and do them either on site or in love motels, I really don't miss the headaches over getting robbed, mugged etc. etc. in my home. I also don't worry any longer about getting rid of the girls once they get to clingy. If I want to see them again, I go to see them... not the other way around. Or to paraphrase Bimbo Boy: avoid becoming a fixed target as much as you can by protecting your privacy as much as possible. IMHO, this applies regardless of whether you live there permanently or are just visiting for a while.

Over the years, there have been several news stories about guys getting killed in their home by GDPs. A couple of years ago, if I remember correctly, a guy was drugged to death on Boa Noite Cinderella by a (TV) hooker in Ipanema. Then there was another Swiss guy who took a lot of money to Rio to buy his GDP GF an apartment and got killed over the cash. I also remember other cases, though not necessarily involving GDPs: a California guy who met a Brazilian over the Internet who was killed at her home by her and her BF when visiting her in Sao Paulo. And then there were some French people who were working at a NGO involved with street kids that got killed in their hotel by some of the kids they had been helping over years and years.

As I said, not all of these cases involved hookers, but the message is clear: be extra careful with people you don't know well. And if you bring them into the privacy of your home, just don't think that you are safe there. And after all, the GDPs, you never really know them well.

So, out of safety concerns, I'd say: don't bring a hooker to your home, ever. Be a hit-and-run guy. Hit that pussy and go home. Alone. Or even better: hit it and run.

EA

[Exec Talent]

I'm unclear about the purpose of this thread. Is it to ensure Safety or to encourage more Crime?

Let's do what we can to help each other stay safe. It is unfortunate that we live in a world where violence exists. Let's try to focus on ways to help each other avoid having any of it come our way.

When I first came to Rio, the guy from whom I rented my apartment (which had a safe) suggested locking up things like my laptop in my largest suitcase. He also suggested making friends with the doorman. He said if any girl tried to leave with a big suitcase she would get stopped. Good suggestions.