Brazil crime trends show falling robberies in Goiás and high cargo theft in Rio

Crime statistics in Brazil show varying trends across different regions and categories. In Goiás, the State Secretariat of Public Security (SSP-GO) reports a significant decline in property crimes. Between 2018 and 2025, robberies in commercial establishments fell by 91%. In the first eight months of 2026, commercial robberies decreased by 34.9%, vehicle robberies dropped by 37.4%, and cargo thefts fell by 70%. Additionally, pedestrian robberies saw a 31.3% reduction compared to the same period in 2025.

Nationally, vehicle theft remains a major concern. In 2025, Brazil recorded 308,440 instances of vehicle theft and robbery. A report by Loovi Seguros for the first half of 2026 identified the Ford Ka, Chevrolet Onix, and Volkswagen Gol as the most frequently stolen models. While there was a 14.3% decrease in total occurrences compared to the previous cycle, the volume remains high, with thefts accounting for the majority of cases.

In Rio de Janeiro, cargo robbery continues to pose a heavy economic burden. The state accounted for 53% of all cargo robberies in the country during the first eight months of the year. Although the number of incidents has been decreasing recently, the financial loss has risen by 39% compared to last year, totaling approximately R$ 201.1 million, as criminals increasingly target higher-value products.