Rio - more gangs, more crime and now, vigilantes

[mvan1]

There were a few readers of this forum that criticised the Rio Times as a less than reputable source of news. To appease these few, I stopped posting links from Rio Times.

Despite the criticism of Rio Times from those self-identified superior news source readers, there is an article that appeared in Rio Times today that I believe should be posted for those who visit or plan to visit Rio de Janeiro. The article cites several large news sources for its content.

I am citing the article for us common folk, therefore, those who previously criticized Rio Times for being substandard are politely asked to disregard this thread and the related article.

The material reported in the article is very disturbing. Worse, though, the news could influence future travel plans for those who vacation in Rio. I know that I am no longer comfortable about visiting Rio because of the reported marked increase in crime in there.

The article discusses several events that appear to be ongoing and/or escalating in Rio.

As the bulk of my Brazil time is spent in Sao Paulo, where such incidents are rare (if at all), I am considering postponing my upcoming weekend in Rio to visit other cities instead.

Vacations and tourism are for enjoyment. If one must be constantly reminded by daily news reports of wild gangs and muggings (or worse), what is the point for visiting such a city?

I am curious, has the increase in reports of violent crime in Rio have an effect on traveling to Rio?

If so, you might want to give Sao Paulo a try.

Here is the article:

http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/possible-vigilantism-on-the-rise-in-rio-de-janeiro/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29

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[MsAnn]

I've read about this before mvan 1, but if it is escalating into such a problem, why then restrict the police from doing searches before crimes are committed? It seems to me, that this is an unusual situation, and has the potential to impacting tourism, and how will this potentially impact the upcoming Olympics? I'm not in favor of vigilantism, but at this point, what are the alternatives?

[MsGuy]

why then restrict the police from doing searches before crimes are committed?

[ihpguy]

I cannot remember how long ago it was, but I remember posting about the private militias of retired armed forces, fire and police and their protection rackets. This is a further step. About three weeks back there was an announcement in the papers about the cancellation of a large numbers of bus routes from the Zona Sul(South) and Zona Oeste(West) into Centro(Downtown) and the Zona Norte (North) with one reason to make it more difficult to travel from one side of the city to the other. Last summer, the proposed arrastoes were even being posted on Facebook. The reason that the police cannot stop the adolescents from invading the Zona Sul is because of a recent judicial ruling preventing untoward intimidation from anyone traveling into the southern areas, Ms. Ann

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[MsAnn]

HA! when I posted that, I just knew someone would call me on that. But of course we have not been victims of these roving gangs, nor to be fair, the victims of the desparity and hopelessness between rich and poor.

(How did I do, did I redeem myself?)

[Guest riosul77]

There were a few readers of this forum that criticised the Rio Times as a less than reputable source of news. To appease these few, I stopped posting links from Rio Times.[/size]

Now if only he would stop posting

[TotallyOz]

I have watched the Rio Times since it started. It was done with a Word Press Theme and initially had all re-written articles from other sources. It has grown a great deal.

Please feel free to post any links to any site you feel relevant. It is good information for us all.

[ihpguy]

I totally agree. Post all you want from Rio Times or elsewhere. Just don't take their reporting as the clear and concise or the total truth. I trust a great deal more NY Times stringers, O Globo, Folha de São Paolo and the TV news on-line reporting here.

[TotallyOz]

I totally agree. Post all you want from Rio Times or elsewhere. Just don't take their reporting as the clear and concise or the total truth. I trust a great deal more NY Times stringers, O Globo, Folha de São Paolo and the TV news on-line reporting here.

Totally agree. I don't think the site is fully legit but I do think it is trying and it improves year by year.

[Guest azhiker602]

I have plans to visit Rio and Porto Alegre over Thanksgiving. Because my visa expired, I have to spend about $200+ to get a new one (at least they are good for 10 years now). I will use miles to go there and hotels are very reasonable now. But reading these posts is making me pause. I do not like always being on guard in Rio and POA is certainly safer. I am thinking of going to GRU first to switch planes south. I have wanted to go to Florianopolis but have not read anything recent about there. Probably this deserves a separate thread but has anyone gone to Florianopolis?

[Guest Trench]

Hey MVAN1, thank you for your active presence in this free forum. If I were you, I would keep posting comments and links that you think might further any conversation hereabouts. Just knowing each of your post sends these cussed trolls into paroxysm of hate and envy should be your encouragement.

[mvan1]

Hey MVAN1, thank you for your active presence in this free forum. If I were you, I would keep posting comments and links that you think might further any conversation hereabouts. Just knowing each of your post sends these cussed trolls into paroxysm of hate and envy should be your encouragement.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Your description of some of the nasty posters in this forum is right on - Troll -

Internet Troll

A person whose sole purpose in life is to seek out people to argue with on the internet over extremely trivial issues. Such arguments can happen on blogs, Facebook, Myspace and a host of others.

The best thing you can do to fight an internet troll is to not answer..or report them.

A forum should be a place to exchange ideas. Not a place to repeatedly argue and write stupid things. Unfortuneately, this forum has more trolls, per capita, than most other forums.

I can't help but wonder what has made these people so miserable, unhappy and hostile to make them behave as they do.

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[mvan1]

There were a few readers of this forum that criticised the Rio Times as a less than reputable source of news. To appease these few, I stopped posting links from Rio Times.[/size]

Now if only he would stop posting

Internet Troll

A person whose sole purpose in life is to seek out people to argue with on the internet over extremely trivial issues. Such arguments can happen on blogs, Facebook, Myspace and a host of others.

The best thing you can do to fight an internet troll is to not answer..or report them.

[mvan1]

I have plans to visit Rio and Porto Alegre over Thanksgiving. Because my visa expired, I have to spend about $200+ to get a new one (at least they are good for 10 years now). I will use miles to go there and hotels are very reasonable now. But reading these posts is making me pause. I do not like always being on guard in Rio and POA is certainly safer. I am thinking of going to GRU first to switch planes south. I have wanted to go to Florianopolis but have not read anything recent about there. Probably this deserves a separate thread but has anyone gone to Florianopolis?

I can understand your apprehension concerning Rio.

You mentioned GRU (Sao Paulo) and Porto Alegre.

As you stated, Porto Alegre is relatively safe. It does not have roaming gangs like Rio has.

I am presently in Sao Paulo and I am totally comfortable here. I spend a lot of time in Sao Paulo. There is a lot to do here. There are no roaming gangs here either. During the day there is a lot to do and see. In the evenings, there are two decent saunas (Fragata and Lagoa).

You might want to look into changing your ticket and visit Sao Paulo until the crime situation in Rio is better controlled.

I changed my weekend trip to Rio and will be going to a different city. The situation in Rio is too uncertain.

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[ihpguy]

This afternoon at about 4:45 I was on the bus passing by Rio Sul Shopping. Pretty fancy. Right in front were 5 armed men if the Polícia Militar, and not the unarmed Guarda Civil, who had detained 10 or 11 shirtless youths. Looked poor. Favelados or close to it. I don't gave a clue why they were rounded up, but where there is smoke there is fire.

For the past couple of weeks there gas been an extremely large police presence all over Centro and Zonal Sul. I had been told that this was to prevent demonstrations against Dilma and the PT. But perhaps it is to prevent unruliness dye to the economic conditions here? Whatever, unless one is a fanatic like I am for the beach at Farme de Amoedo, be very careful or choose somewhere else. Hey. It is getting warm enough to enjoy tres gay Floripa! I've heard this is a mixed rent sauna in Balneário Camboriu as well

[Guest azhiker602]

Sao Paulo has never been on my list but I am considering it now based on mvan1's suggestion. Will give me a chance to come up to speed again on my Portuguese before going to Porto Alegre. Florianopolis still on list. Another reason to skip Rio is I always get a chest cold there, not sure why. Thanks for the input.

[mvan1]

Sao Paulo has never been on my list but I am considering it now based on mvan1's suggestion. Will give me a chance to come up to speed again on my Portuguese before going to Porto Alegre. Florianopolis still on list. Another reason to skip Rio is I always get a chest cold there, not sure why. Thanks for the input.

As an additional comfort zone for visiting Sao Paulo, a couple of days ago, tomcal posted the following regarding Sao Paulo:

Sao Paulo - Lagoa was amazing last Saturday, packed! I stayed until midnight! Sunday night Lagoa was also good. Fragata on Saturday night was fairly busy with quite a few customers at 5:30, but there wasn't one escort that interested me so I left at 6:15. and went to Lagoa

tomcal is a frequent visitor to Brazil and has been for more than a dozen years. He really knows the good places. His recommendation for Sao Paulo speaks for itself.

In addition to the saunas, during the day, there is much to see and to do in Sao Paulo.

[TotallyOz]

I have been to Sao Paulo many times over the years and have several trip reports here. It is my favorite city in Brazil. I like it for both the culture and the boys. Excellent in both areas.

[Guest tomcal]

I just got back from spending time in Porto Alegre, Rio and Sao Paulo. Amazing trip! one of the best I have taken in the past 14 years that I have been going to Brazil, usually 4 or 5 times each year!

The roving gangs of young teens(usually)is nothing new! This has happened ever since I have been going there. Usually they perform "snatch and Grab" thefts! I mentioned in the past when going to the beach, I only take about $30R(todays rate about $7.00U.S) nothing else, should they come running past you there is nothing for them to grab! no money, no watch, no iPhone, etc.!! for that you can rent a chair, umbrella, get a soda, food, and small bottle of suntan lotion! I personally have never witnessed this activity, and on a sunny weekend there are thousands of people on the beach.

I was out every night in Ipanema at dinner usually walking back to the apartment around 12:30 - 1:30 a.m., and noticed no difference in the attitudes or activities of locals. I admit I was never walking alone! there were always 4 to 6 of us walking together. :-)

The biggest surprise this trip was how much I enjoyed Sao Paulo, specifically Lagoa! I enjoyed it so much I just booked a return visit in December!

[ihpguy]

It costs more than 30Reais for an afternoon at the beach. 12Reais I think is now the price for an umbrella and chair. Each can of soda will be 5Reais and Caipirinhas will be more. I think the beach vendors were at 12 or 15 Reais for a bottle of lotion. With the exchange rate, it is still cheap. One reason to bring a smart phone with you as that some of the barracas now offer free wifi. The center of beach in Ipa between Texeira de Melo and Farme de Amoedo is much busier and safer than the end near Arpoador where the arrastoes more often are taking place.

One security measure that I practice on the beach is to place the straps of my backpack around the sun umbrella post. So if anyone comes past and wants to grab the backpack they first have to stop and lift up the umbrella out of the sand before taking off with the backpack.

Second thing is to tuck anything up above the supporting ribs of the umbrella(guarda-sol) so that someone needs to be directly under it and look upward to see that there is anything hidden above your beach chairs(cadeiras).

Below is an advisory sent to me by the US Consulate here in Rio.

Social media and news reports are tracking gatherings that could lead to conflicts in the Southern Zone ( Zona Sul) of Rio de Janeiro involving local criminal elements today, Saturday the 26th of September, and tomorrow, Sunday the 27th of September. According to media reports, law enforcement are preparing for a rally in Ipanema at 10am of local residents demonstrating against criminals who commit crimes in the neighborhood around Arpoador Beach. There also are reports of a rally in Ipanema on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. around the Praça General Osório (General Osorio Square). Criminals, including members of local gangs, allegedly have threatened reprisals against participants during these rallies.

It is highly encouraged that all American citizens avoid these areas during times when a demonstration has been scheduled. The Consulate reminds U.S. citizens to reflect and focus on their own personal security. Be vigilant while traveling on the roads, especially at night. Recently, there have been shootings, assaults and carjackings on the Linha Vermelha that links the airport to the Southern Zone of the city. In Rio de Janeiro, motorists should be especially cautious at stoplights and when stuck in traffic. Carjackings and holdups often occur at intersections, especially at night. Incidents of crime on public transportation are frequent, and at times have involved violent crimes. When traveling by yellow taxi, we recommend the use of taxis openly displaying company information and phone numbers as well as red license plates.

If you require assistance, please contact the Consulate using the contact information below:

U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro
Av. Presidente Wilson, 147 Castelo
Rio de Janeiro, RJ — 20030-020
Entrance at Rua Santa Luzia
Phone: (21) 3823-2000
After-Hours Emergencies: (21) 3823-2029
Email: acsrio@state.gov<mailto:acsrio@state.gov>

[Guest tomcal]

It costs more than 30Reais for an afternoon at the beach. 12Reais I think is now the price for an umbrella and chair. Each can of soda will be 5Reais and Caipirinhas will be more. I think the beach vendors were at 12 or 15 Reais for a bottle of lotion.

using your numbers above 12R for umbrella/chair, 5R soda, 12R lotion = $29R I said About $30R, don't think that I was wrong, but things could have changed since last week....that's why I said ABOUT 30R I should have stated that I never spend more then 2 hours there as laying on the beach is not my thing so when I go with some of the guys, I do it grudgingly, if I was there longer I would be spending at least $34R as I would need another soda! Soooo....a afternoon at the beach if you bring between $29r - $35r($7.29 - $8.81 U.S.) you should be fine for basics! if you want food, like the shrimp on a stick they sell it will cost you a little more, personally I do not get any food from beach vendors.

[RA1]

Even I can last 2 hours without food.

Best regards,

RA1

[ferrar]

I totally agree. Post all you want from Rio Times or elsewhere. Just don't take their reporting as the clear and concise or the total truth. I trust a great deal more NY Times stringers, O Globo, Folha de São Paolo and the TV news on-line reporting here.

+1

Speaking of the Rio Times, of course we're just talking about a local entertainment and real estate rag that happens to be written in English. When it strays too far from its roots facts tend to get in the way even within those two areas. As long as folks here understand that, then we're all good.

[ferrar]

I just got back from spending time in Porto Alegre, Rio and Sao Paulo. Amazing trip! one of the best I have taken in the past 14 years that I have been going to Brazil, usually 4 or 5 times each year!

Wouldn't you have been better off just making Brazil your home base? Clearly, that would have saved you a ton of travel time and travel fares - and afforded you a ton more time with the garotos as a side benefit.

Of course with just a pied-a-terre, from what I recall, the exchange rate then was around what it is today (with local prices a fraction of what they are now). Even as a non-resident you could just rent it out to cover your expenses when not there - or cleverly try and work out a deal of rent in exchange for time spent with garotos....

[mvan1]

+1

Speaking of the Rio Times, of course we're just talking about a local entertainment and real estate rag that happens to be written in English. When it strays too far from its roots facts tend to get in the way even within those two areas. As long as folks here understand that, then we're all good.

You just can't let it go, can you?

http://modernmelly.me/2015/09/04/top-internet-troll-trash-talker-tactics/