São Paulo Downtown Has Highest Number of Cell Phone Theft Cases

By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Downtown São Paulo is the region of the city that recorded the highest number of cell phone thefts last year.

In the República neighborhood 3,288 cases were registered, 1,730 in Sé, 1,148 in Consolação and 762 in Bela Vista. Over 15,000 cases were recorded in 2018 throughout the state capital.

Three of the five addresses with the highest number of thefts are also in the city centre. Praça da República is ranked first with 466 cases, followed by Rua Augusta with 412 and Rua da Consolação with 395.

Despite a large number of cell phone thefts, the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) stated that reported thefts, in general, fell 10 percent in the capital last year.

In the first quarter of the year, the drop was 5 percent compared to the same period in 2018. SSP says it is taking steps to strengthen policing in the city of São Paulo.