One in ten Brazilians had their cell phone stolen

According to a recent survey carried out by Datafolha, and commissioned by the Brazilian Public Security Forum together with Folha, statistics regarding public security in Brazil present a very worrying picture, especially when it comes to crimes that affect citizens’ property.

The study, which interviewed 2,508 people from all over the country, revealed that approximately one in ten Brazilians was the victim of a cell phone theft or robbery in the last year. These figures not only reflect the alarming reality of security in the country, but also draw attention to the frequent violation of personal property, with mobile devices standing out as the main targets of these types of crimes.

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Almost 1,700 cell phones stolen per hour

The survey, conducted between June 11 and 17, brings to light a worrying statistic: it reveals that no less than 9.2% of the participants interviewed reported having been victims of a cell phone theft or robbery incident in the year prior to the study.

Translating this data into more concrete numerical terms, this means that approximately 14.7 million people throughout Brazil have been affected by this type of crime. To further illustrate the magnitude of the problem, these numbers indicate that, shockingly, approximately 1,680 cell phones are stolen or robbed every hour in the country.

The results show that these crimes occur more frequently in capital cities, where 15% of respondents were victims, compared to 6% in smaller cities. This highlights the greater vulnerability of large urban centers.

Furthermore, only 55% of victims reported the crime, indicating that the real number may be even higher. The lack of records makes it difficult to combat crime and punish those responsible, maintaining a cycle of impunity.

Financial loss

The financial impact is also significant. Datafolha estimates that the losses from cell phone thefts and robberies in the last 12 months were R$22.7 billion, a figure only lower than the losses from Pix scams or fake bills.

These crimes also cause fear and insecurity. More than half of those interviewed (53%) said they avoid certain areas or times for fear of having their cell phone stolen or robbed.

Most Brazilians do not have insurance against cell phone theft or robbery, only 21% of those interviewed have this protection, increasing the financial impact for victims.

Datafolha data highlights the urgency of measures to combat cell phone theft and robbery in Brazil. It is necessary to invest in security policies that prevent and combat these crimes, encourage the reporting of incidents and seek solutions to reduce the financial impact on victims.

Source: S. Paulo Newspaper