Clara Neri, a reporter for Brazil’s ‘Band Rio’ channel, posted a video on social media documenting the incident. She noted that the thief failed to steal the phone because she held onto the device. She confirmed that surveillance cameras captured the attacker’s face, although the license plate of his bike was covered. She reported the incident to the police, who have begun their investigation.
Rio de Janeiro is experiencing a sharp increase in crime rates, particularly phone thefts, which have risen by about 40% between January and July 2024, according to official data. There are concerns about the rapid release of offenders despite their arrests.
