Rio de Janeiro sees record low street robberies while cargo and vehicle theft rise

The Rio de Janeiro state security agency reported that from January to May 2026 the state recorded 20,877 street robberies, a 19.7% decline compared with the same period in 2025 and the lowest total since 2005. May alone saw 4,177 incidents, down 13.3% from May 2025 and the lowest monthly figure since 2020. Niterói posted the steepest drop, with a 44.8% reduction, while Magé experienced a 30.8% increase.

Violent lethality also fell, with 1,528 victims between January and May—a 10.2% drop from the previous year and the lowest count since the series began in 1991. Homicides numbered 1,137 (‑9.6%), police‑related deaths fell 11.7% to 294 (the lowest since 2014), and femicides decreased to 37.

In contrast, cargo theft rose 20.9% to 1,576 cases (May 198, a 24.1% decrease from May 2025 but the lowest since 1999), and vehicle theft increased 23% to 12,104 cases (May 1,796, up 6.4% from May 2025 but down 29.5% from April 2026). Police seized 2,855 firearms, recovered 8,906 vehicles (+19.6%), and executed 5,350 warrants, resulting in 18,978 arrests.