Brazilian Cities Use Camera Networks to Slash Theft and Vehicle Crime

In the northern Paraná municipality of Ibiporã, a municipal monitoring system now operates 1,298 cameras across urban, rural and public‑building locations. The police highlighted that the cameras, 30% of which cover strategic points, have helped identify suspects, trace escape routes and strengthen evidence in theft investigations. The city added 160 new units this year, all funded with its own resources, and municipal officials say the modernised network has markedly reduced robberies.

The state of Mato Grosso’s "Vigia Mais" program, showcased at the GovBrasil 2026 conference in São Paulo, extends video‑monitoring to 142 municipalities with more than 21,300 cameras. Authorities report up to an 80% drop in vehicle thefts, the recovery of around 700 stolen vehicles worth roughly R$24 million, and the arrest of about 280 fugitives through facial‑recognition and licence‑plate identification technologies. The system operates via a cloud‑based centre in Cuiabá and partner‑maintained stations.