Brazil: Incidents of Robbery with Injury Occurring on the Streets

Date and Time of Occurrence
April 10th (Wednesday), around 11:00 PM
Location of the Incident
Around 196 Rua Antonio Carlos, Consolação district, São Paulo
Incident Overview
A Japanese national was on their way home alone after having dinner with a friend at a nearby restaurant. As they passed through a residential area, after leaving the more commercial section with many restaurants, one of a group of four individuals (two men and two women) walking ahead of them suddenly approached the victim as they entered a dark area. The man attempted to snatch the shoulder bag the victim was wearing cross-body. The victim was pushed to the ground by the force of the tug on the bag, and some of the contents (including a wallet and earphones) were stolen. The perpetrator who grabbed the bag was described as a Black male, approximately 180 cm tall, with a slim build, and appeared to be of college age. The victim sustained injuries to the head and hand from the fall but was treated in the emergency room and was not seriously harmed.
Stolen Items
Approximately 1,000 BRL in cash from the wallet, earphones, etc.
Crime Prevention Measures
(1) Multiple incidents of robbery involving Japanese nationals have occurred day and night in the area around Paulista Avenue in the past. If you need to visit the area, avoid traveling alone or on foot whenever possible.
(2) When going out, limit your belongings to the bare minimum and avoid carrying valuables as much as possible. If you must carry them, distribute them in different locations on your person.
(3) Always maintain a heightened sense of awareness when outside, and periodically glance around to display your alertness.
(4) In the unfortunate event that you become involved in an incident, do not attempt to resist, as this could put your life in danger. Comply with the perpetrator’s demands and avoid making any quick movements that could be misinterpreted as an attempt to escape or resist.