Brazil: Spike in car thefts in Rio de Janiero state

Event

According to statistics released by the Public Security Institute (ISP), the number of car thefts reported in Rio de Janiero state has increased significantly since 2016. In the first ten months of 2017, 45,681 vehicles were reported as stolen, a 37 percent increase from the same period in 2016.

The rise in thefts has reportedly caused at least one insurance company, BNP Paribas Cardif, to stop selling car insurance for vehicles in the state. The prices of available insurance policies have increased by at least 15 percent from 2016.

Context

Spikes in crime rates and violence in Rio de Janeiro states shed light on the failure of the state's security polices. According to government statistics, 4974 people were killed in the state in the first nine months of 2017, an 11 percent increase from the same period in 2016. ​Incidences of armed cargo theft have also reportedly tripled in Rio de Janiero state from 2013 to 2016, with local companies spending up to 20 percent of their budgets on security.

Advice

Due to the high crime threat in Rio de Janiero  - and throughout Brazil more generally - individuals should remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to ensure vehicle security. Do not leave your car in an isolated area and conceal all sings of wealth to avoid attracting attention of would-be thieves.