São Paulo sees 37% drop in cargo theft while feminicide cases rise in first five months of 2026

The São Paulo State Public Security Secretariat reported that cargo theft fell 37% in May 2026, with 194 incidents compared with 308 in May 2025. The January‑May total dropped from 1,613 to 1,061 cases, a 34% decline. The reduction was most pronounced in the interior, where incidents fell from 55 to 30, a 45% drop, bringing the six‑month interior total to a historic low of 167.

At the same time, gender‑based violence increased. From January to May, feminicide notifications rose to 124, up from 107 the previous year, with 85 of those occurring in interior municipalities. May alone saw a reduction from 26 to 18 cases, but the cumulative rise remains notable. Rapists' reports also grew, with 1,237 cases in the January‑April period, a 4.7% increase over the same period in 2025, and crimes against vulnerable persons rose 2.28% to 3,943 incidents.

The data underscore a divergence in crime trends: while property crimes such as cargo theft are decreasing, violence against women continues to climb, prompting officials to stress ongoing preventive and protective measures.