Violent attacks on expats in São Paulo

There has been a recent and alarming surge in the number of violent crimes against members of the expat community in São Paulo. You should be aware of the situation and take precautions to ensure your personal security.



The most serious of these crimes was the brutal murder of 5-year-old Brayan Yanarico Capcha, a Bolivian child, during an armed robbery of the house where he and his parents lived along with several other Bolivians. Their home was invaded by a group of five robbers who robbed the residents of around R$4000. Brayan was crying and begging the robbers not to kill him and his mother (his last words). Dispite his pleas one of the gang shot the defenseless child in the head at point blank range.



His murderer is Diego Rocha Freitas Campos, 19-years old who was imprisoned for robbery, but failed to return to prison following a Temporary Pass to celebrate Mother's Day. Every year hundreds of prisoners are released on holiday passes and simply never return, which only serves to give them a sense of impunity and turns them loose on an unsuspecting public to perpetrate more crimes. Campos has still not been located and is considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you see this person you should phone the anonymous tip line Disque-Denúncia (181) or the Military Police (190).

Two days later another gang attacked another Bolivian family as they returned home. The woman was dragged out of the back seat of the family car and thrown to the ground by one of the gang members. Their child was removed from the car seat and carried towards the residence by another member of the gang while a third was trying to pull the man out of the car. He was still belted in and couldn't free himself. The assailant begand hitting and kicking him, breaking his nose in the process.

Less than one week following this brutal murder a gang, 1 male and 2 females, robbed a Nigerian merchant and one of the gang members pointed a revolver at the head of the couple's 6-month-old baby and threatened to kill the child if the woman, who barely speaks Portugese, didn't comply with all of their demands.

While these brutal attacks are usually aimed at the more vulnerable members of developing nations now living in Brazil, but none of us are safe from this kind of violence. First of all the criminal element in this country is well aware that unless you have a Permanent Visa it's virtually impossible to open a bank account. Bolivians, Columbians, Ecuadoran and African immigrants are apt to keep sums of money in their homes because they can't have a bank account. This makes the weakest members of our expat community easy targets.

The tips below will help you to stay safe:

1. If you can open a bank account here in Brazil do so and pay almost everything using your debit card.

2.  Never keep large sums of money, jewelry or other valuables in your home.

3.  If you withdraw money from an ATM make sure nobody is watching you and try to use ATMs in the bank or at an ATM in a highly public place where there is lots of movement. Avoid using any ATM at night if at all possible.

4. If you make a withdrawal at the teller of a large sum of money try not to do so alone, take a trusted friend or family member with you. If at all possible ask the teller NOT to count out the money where it can be seen by others who might be watching, hand over the money in an envelope or ask if they have a private area where you can receive the money away from the prying eyes of would-be robbers. Unless you're in some secluded area of the bank DO NOT take the money out of the envelope to count it. It's better to risk losing a small amount due to a teller miscounting the banknotes for your transaction than it is to lose it all through a robbery.

5.  Remain calm, never react to the crime in any way. Talk calmly to your assailant and tell him or her exactly what you aare going to do. Never put your hands into a pocket, remember the robber is probably as nervous and upset as you are and could think you are going for a gun. Comply immediately with whatever demands your assailant makes, without comments.

6.  Alter your daily routine, schedule and routes frequently so a robber can't predict where you will be, when you'll be arriving at home for example.

7. If driving, try to install an automatic gate/garage door opener so you don't have to stop and get out of your car.

8. When arriving by car do not drive directly up to your gate or garage. Drive down your street to observe your surrounding and keep on driving by slowly. Be particularly aware of motorcycles and pedestrians in the area. If all appears normal then turn around at the corner, drive straight back to where you're going to park and at this time as you are driving up activate your door opener with enough time that you won't have to stop, but rather drive right in. Close the door behind you as quickly as possible.

9. Never wear expensive jewelry, watches, flashy clothing or carry cameras, computers in public.

10. Avoid going out at night, if you must make sure you don't go out alone and only frequent areas you are familiar with and consider relatively safe.

Follow the rules and stay safe.

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team