São Paulo businesses face rising security costs amid localized robbery trends

A survey by FecomercioSP reveals that 52% of retail companies in São Paulo allocate revenue to security measures to protect against crime and insecurity. The most common investments include monitoring systems and cameras (25.6%), followed by combined strategies (15.6%) and private surveillance or patrols (6.4%). While many businesses report not being directly impacted by crime in the last year, the perception of insecurity has become a structural cost, with 24.8% of businesses noting increased security spending and 12.6% reporting a reduction in consumer flow.

Data from the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) indicates that while robbery registrations in São Paulo fell by 12% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, specific high-traffic areas remain hotspots. Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul recorded the highest frequency with an average of 1.4 robberies per day, followed by Avenida Sapopemba with 1.2 per day. Other notable locations with high robbery averages include Avenida do Estado, Avenida Paulista, Rua da Consolação, and Rua Augusta.