Gang Breaks into Apartment and Steals R$500,000 Worth of Jewelry in São Paulo

By Xiu Ying

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – A gang of more than ten robbers broke into an apartment in Brooklin, an expensive and upscale neighborhood of São Paulo’s South, on Friday morning, June 21st. The victims were tied up and about R$500,000 (US$125,000) worth of jewelry was taken.

The perpetrators spent the night in a vacant apartment next to that of the victim. In the morning, they broke in heavily armed with rifles and pistols, bulletproof vests and black hoods. They announced the robbery and assaulted the owner of the apartment and his nephew, who was also on the scene.

The two were handcuffed and taken together with the maid to the adjoining apartment, which was used as a backup for the criminals. The neighbors spotted the victim on the balcony, in his underpants and tied to a chair and called the police.

During the afternoon, the police searched cars leaving the condominium in search of criminals who might still be on the scene. The apartment owner said the robbers escaped carrying a large amount of jewelry.

The businessman owns a jewelry store and kept approximately 75 items at home, valued at over R$500,000. The perpetrators also took R$15,000 in cash.

The police are examining CCTV footage to identify the robbers and how the gang got into the building.