Niterói cuts street robberies by 44.8%, leading Rio de Janeiro state

The city of Niterói recorded a 44.8% drop in street robberies – robberies of pedestrians, cell phones and group thefts – during the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The decline of 276 incidents was the largest among the municipalities surveyed by the Instituto de Segurança Pública (ISP), more than double the 19.7% reduction achieved statewide. Rio de Janeiro state reported its lowest number of street robberies in 21 years, with a total of 20,877 cases.

Mayor Rodrigo Neves attributed the results to a decade‑long strategy that expanded the municipal guard workforce by 400%, invested in the Centro Integrado de Segurança Pública (CISP) with about 800 cameras and 120 electronic fencing devices, and launched preventive programs such as the Pacto Niterói contra a Violência and Proeis. Secretary of Public Order Gilson Chagas emphasized that the integration of technology, intelligence and police forces enabled faster responses and the recovery of over 800 stolen vehicles. While Niterói saw a sharp decline, neighboring Magé experienced a 30.8% rise in robberies.

The data also showed broader safety improvements: violent lethality fell 10.2% to its lowest level since 1991, and law‑enforcement actions seized 2,855 firearms and recovered 8,906 vehicles.