# Brazil cell phone theft trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-cell-phone-theft-trends
> Updated: 2026-08-09T16:07:01.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 3.

By mid‑2026, the 20th Brazilian Public Security Yearbook confirmed a downward trend in mobile device crime for 2025. Total incidents fell to 830,890 from 909,753 the previous year, representing a 9% decrease. This decline was driven by an 18.6% drop in violent robberies (308,723 cases), while non‑violent thefts saw a slight increase of 0.9% (483,561 incidents).

São Paulo remains a major hub, accounting for 20% of all incidents despite holding only 5.6% of the population. High-activity areas include the Pinheiros neighborhood and major thoroughfares like Avenida Paulista. Nationally, São Luís recorded the highest theft rate (1,517 per 100,000 residents), followed by Belém and São Paulo. In the South, Paraná reported the highest regional rate at 245.3 per 100,000.

While Rio de Janeiro previously reported rising crime rates, recent preliminary data from the Military Police suggests a significant shift. Street robberies in July may reach a 22-year low, with property crimes and cargo theft seeing substantial reductions. These improvements are attributed to emergency police actions such as “Operation Interception.”

Despite the national decline, localized incidents persist. In late June 2026, a daylight robbery at a retail outlet in Rio Branco, Acre, resulted in the loss of approximately 170 smartphones and other electronics. Additionally, a break-in at a restaurant in Maceió, Alagoas, targeted staff delivery phones.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-09: Brazil reports decline in cell phone thefts and street robberies

Brazil saw a 9% drop in cell phone thefts and robberies in 2025, while Rio de Janeiro reports its lowest street robbery levels in 22 years.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-reports-decline-in-cell-phone-thefts-and-street-robberies

### 2026-07-20: Brazil reports drop in cellphone thefts, Rio shows rise

Brazil saw a 7.7% drop in cellphone thefts in 2025, averaging 95 stolen per hour, while Rio de Janeiro recorded a 19% increase and Paraná led the South with the highest rate.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazils-top-10-cities-for-mobile-phone-theft-in-2025

### 2026-06-26: Brazil sees spate of cell phone thefts at retail outlets

Two separate thefts in Brazil – a Rio Branco shop lost about 170 phones and other electronics, while a Maceió pizza place had delivery phones stolen and CCTV sabotaged.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-sees-spate-of-cell-phone-thefts-at-retail-outlets

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Cite as: Brazil cell phone theft trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-cell-phone-theft-trends