Brazil is not only famous for its beautiful beaches and curvy women. It has a reputation for crime and danger to anyone who visits or lives in Brazil. The picture featured shows how the very wealthy and very poor live side by side in Brazil. On the left you see a favela with no organised supply of electricity or water. On the right is an apartment building where each balcony has its own swimming pool. This of course causes the opportunistic crime so rampant in Brazil.
When faced with the prospect of moving to Brazil I immediately thought about the high crime rates so avidly reported on in media. Robberies, kidnapping, rape, bag snatching, gang violence are all very common in Brazil. A new form of kidnapping has emerged called express kidnapping or quicknapping where a person is kidnapped and driven around in a car while all your money is withdrawn from an ATM. In most cases the person is dropped off in a remote place after pay-off is done.
According to statistics Brazil has nearly 60,000 murders per year. That equals the total number of murders in the United States, China, Europe, Northern Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Canada and New Zeeland….combined! That equals 10% of homicides in the world!
In 2015 Brazil had 29 deaths by homicide per 100,000 inhabitants (2015). That same year Sweden had just under 1 death per 100,000 residents. The Telegraph did an interesting study in 2016 regarding countries’ firearms per capita. Interestingly enough Sweden landed a 9th place on the top ten countries with the most guns with 31,6 guns / 100 residents. Brazil didn’t make the list with only 8 guns/100 residents. Brazil did however make the top 10 countries with gun related deaths with 21,2 deaths/100,000 residents, Sweden did not even make the list. (Source NationMaster)
As a side note: The biggest death threat in Sweden, according to the World Bank statistics, seems to be suicide! Sweden has twice the number of suicides per 100,000 inhabitants (15,4) as Brazil (6,3).
Perception of threat
From NationMaster I gathered more interesting data that may be more relevant to our situation living in Brazil. Below is a comparison showing perceived threat in Sweden vs. Brazil. I added USA for added measure.
| Sweden | Brazil | USA | |
| Feels safe walking alone at night |
58% |
15% |
42% |
| Feels safe walking alone during day |
79% |
47% |
75% |
| Worried about being attacked |
38% |
70% |
42% |
| Worried about being mugged/robbed |
39% |
77% |
45% |
| Worried about car being stolen |
35% |
72% |
42% |
| Worried about homeinvasion |
36% |
55% |
49% |
| Worried about items from car being stolen |
43% |
75% |
59% |
After much digging the internet I have come to the obvious conclusion that I have good reason to take precautions and be careful while living in Brazil.
Safe mindset…
Both Peter and I are accustomed to a mindset and high awareness of our own personal safety and that of our fellow soldiers and officers after serving in Kosovo and Afghanistan. The big differences here are: A) we are not armed B) our “colleagues” are not brothers in arms but our children, completely incapable of defending themselves. They are dependants which has to be considered in any assessment we make or course of action we plan to take.
…from our perspective
Sao Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil with over 12 milj people living in it. That is 2 milj more than the number of people living in Sweden (10 milj)! Of all states in Brazil Sao Paulo is the second to least dangerous state. Brazil and Sao Paulo have vast rifts in wealth and classes out of which opportunistic crime arises. Therefore the following threats have been identified to us gringos living here in Brazil.
Robbery
You can be a victim at any time anywhere. When at a restaurant, sitting on a bus, at a red light in your car. Armed robberies are most common. To mitigate exposure to these risks avoid obvious displays of wealth such as jewellery, expensive bags or accessories. Do not appear overly vulnerable, walk with a purpose. Only have what is absolutely necessary with you. A cross body bag will dissuade snatchers but not robbers. Always be prepared to loose whatever is in your purse. So don’t keep passports, all credit cards, jewellery, large amounts of cash in your purse. Here is an interesting tip; always have a small amount of cash to please the robber and get him off your back. Not having anything could potentially anger him/her and put you at greater risk.
In your car; keep valuables out of sight. Do not keep bags in the passenger seat. Keep windows closed and doors locked. Do not stop at red lights at night. Yes, that means running red lights. And for goodness sake, know where you are going. Check your GPS before you go anywhere so that you stay in the right neighbourhood. Rich neighbourhoods and favelas are back-to-back and a wrong turn could put you in danger.
The restaurant we go to for dinner most nights now that we still stay at a hotel was robbed last week. Luckily we were not there that night. The robbers held 5 employees hostage while robbing everyone of their money and valuables. Everybody complied and consequently nobody got hurt.
A VICTIM’S COURSE OF ACTION
If you are unfortunate enough to be a victim of a robbery this is what we have been instructed to do; keep your eyes averted, as eye contact can be perceived as challenging. Take whatever is asked for and hold it up over your head keeping your eyes down. DO NOT under any circumstance challenge the robber no matter how easy you think it would be to subdue him because that is when the robber uses the gun.
Express kidnapping
Usually these are quick and spontaneous targeting adults with obvious money. When you are withdrawing cash from an ATM machine, when you return from a restaurant at night to your car parked outside. So only withdraw cash from banks or inside shopping malls. Never on the street. Don’t move around alone at night on the streets even if you are only going from the restaurant to your car.
A VICTIM’S COURSE OF ACTION
As in a robbery; do as you are instructed, submit and DO NOT challenge, ask questions, plead.
Pick pocketing/snatching
The obvious being talking on or looking at your iPhone while walking on the street. They will either come up behind you on motorcycles and snatch and go or very cleverly in groups snatch it from right under your nose. You will never know what hit you. I was so chocked when I saw this. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5S0_ba67Kw&w=640&h=360.
So keep your phone in your pocket, increase your awareness and enjoy the scenery.
Credit card skimming
Devices are placed over the credit card insert that scan your credit card information. Cameras are placed in the vicinity of the ATM to video your code. Avoid street ATMs and always do a visual assessment of the ATM machine so as to identify anomalies.
Summing up
Yes, Brazil is a dangerous country due mainly to the differences in socio-economic classes. Crime is greater in the larger cities where poverty is widespread and concentrated. I do not feel threatened here. I feel aware, on my toes but not threatened. I follow the above recommendations and am constantly aware of my surroundings. And a red light means GO!
OUT!
