Safety Advises
All big cities have advantages and disadvantages, and Rio is not an exception.
You are a gringo (stranger) - and the thieves are looking for your money, camera, credit cards etc. So be prepared and do not let them take it from your easily... See below also general safety advises (unrelated to thieves):
Prepare in advance
Special socks or pockets or... (use your imagination) to hide your money/passport/ tickets etc. on your body, below the cloths.
Do not arrive with expensive items
Watch, jewelry, cellular phone etc. If you already arrived with such items - hide them well before you get out from the airport, and leave it in your apartment.
Take care of your passport and documents
Leave Passport, tickets and money in the hotel / apartment safety deposit box. It is not recommended to use a deposit box out of the room (lobby).
Avoid using cellular phone in public places.
Some thieves have the habit to grab them while you are busy in a conversation.
Keep an eye at your luggage.
There are special techniques to grab your attention in order to steal your luggage. If you are a single male, and a nice girl approach you - suspect her friends.
Do not put valuables in a pouch or backpack.
No matter how hard and tight you hold them - the thieves may easily take them from you...
Always carry with you some money
Take with you 20 R$, just in case you are approached by an armed person. You are at a higher risk if you do not hand over some money.
If you are robbed twice or forgot to carry money
Believe it or not, but I met someone that was robbed twice within one hour. In such a case, as you do not have some money to hand-over, politely advise the criminal that you were already robbed some minutes ago...
Do not try to resist or react
If the worst comes and you are approached by a
While touring around
Take with you only necessary items for your daily use.
Do not carry anything that if stolen can ruin your trip. Take only a copy
of your documents (unless you're driving). If a policemen ask for your document,
invite him to see it in your hotel / apartment - in front of other people.
Your credit card may be used by others
Leave the credit card in the apartment if you do not intend to use it. When you take it with you - hide it separately from the money.
Do not leave your credit card un-attended: Cloning a credit card is relatively easy. The waiters in the restaurant may charge you officially, and also go to a hidden place where he clones your card. It takes one minute. Several days later you will find that your account was charged excessively. We personally faced such a problem. Actually, we were notified by the credit card company that our card was cloned, after it was used to purchase items at several stores, 3,000 US$ within 3 hours.
Camera
While not in use, put your camera in a bag. A plastic bag (those you get in supermarket) is very good to hide such items. We heard about people that were robbed from all they had in the pockets, but the 500$ camera in a plastic bag stayed with them.
Backup your pictures
It is sad to lose a camera. It is worst to loose all the pictures taken during your trip. Backup often your pictures.
Riding thieves
It is common (especially near the beach) to steal cameras and bags by criminals riding a bicycle or even a skateboard. Strap your valuables (especially cameras) to your hand/body.
At the Beach
Only carry a towel, sun tan, oil and a small amount of money.
This is also the place to mention another safety issue: avoid swimming far
from the shore and be careful with overexposure to the sun. Remember, you
are in a tropical country affected by the ozone hole.
Drugs - No No No
Drugs are available - but they are dangerous !!! We heard about a guy
that bought it in the street and 3 minutes later a policemen arrested him.
He had to pay the policemen a lot... (see
D
Good Night
Cinderella drug
Is a cocktail of powerful sleeping drugs, some
'friendly' people use to steal other's belongings.
Do not accept
An affair
Free affair or at a special charge - can cost you more than expected. Read carefully the following:
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Part of the 'game' is stealing your valuables while you are sleeping with a smile on your face. (That is the reason why most hotels will charge you extra to allow the girl in your room, after registering her officially).
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Consider going to a Motel for such events. Remember: In MOST cases the girl will try to steal.
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Make sure you agree the 'service charge' in advance. Once agreed - Do pay at least that amount and do not bargain. We heard of someone that made the girl angry. She threw the TV on the floor - and the guy had to pay...
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If you bring a girl to your room, thinking that 'she is different' - prepare to be charged at the end. It is wise to leave aside a reasonable amount of money for such cases.
Crossing roads
Never offer a bribe
See also Car driving safety advises
In case you were robbed and need to report
There is a police station dedicated for tourists located in Leblon at Avenida Afranio de Melo Franco 159 - Tel: 3399-7170 - 24 hours. In case you need a replacement for credit cards, traveler's checks or reimbursement from your insurance company, you must go there in order to get an official report called "boletim de ocorrencia".
Credit cards customers service
American Express
- 0800-78-505050, Traveler's Checks replacements: 0800-7020777
MasterCard and Visa - 4001-4456
Diners - 4001-4444
Banco do Brasil - 3808-3000
Citibank - 3460-2484
Rio has several police entities:
Tourist Police
Civil Guards - Guarda Civil
Military Police - Policia Militar
Traffic Police
Federal police
Most policemen (including the tourist police) do not speak English.
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