
Security cameras capture thefts from Brazil to Sweden as property crime surges
From vehicle thefts in Belo Horizonte to gym locker break-ins in Uppsala, law enforcement agencies report rising incidents, with many suspects still at large.
An elderly couple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, had their car stolen in under a minute by a man filmed by a security camera, as the city records an average of 22 vehicle thefts per day. The suspect, whose face is clearly visible in the footage, remains unidentified and the vehicle has not been recovered, according to state security authorities.
Across continents, law enforcement agencies are reporting sharp increases in property crimes, often captured on surveillance systems. In Palmas, also in Brazil, more than 1,800 thefts from businesses were registered in the first half of 2026, state data show. In Calgary, Canada, police have recorded 369 catalytic converter thefts so far this year, more than double the total for all of 2025, a spike attributed by Canadian law enforcement to the rising value of precious metals inside the devices.
Swedish authorities are investigating a theft from a gym locker in Uppsala where a man’s belongings were stolen despite being secured with a code lock; the suspect was later located at another gym using the victim’s stolen lock, and Swedish media reported the individual was subdued with a taser during arrest. In Canberra, Australia, a 20-year-old man wanted for robbery and burglary allegedly ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle while attempting to evade police, before being arrested after a brief foot chase, Australian police said.
While police in multiple jurisdictions have intensified patrols and made arrests, many suspects remain at large. Brazilian authorities in Palmas say they have increased preventive policing and shared information with investigative units, but the elderly couple’s car has not been recovered and the victim fears losing insurance coverage due to a missed payment. In Uppsala, a driver was charged after a passenger was seen hanging out of a car window, but the suspect initially admitted to driving before changing his account, leaving questions about the sequence of events. Investigations are ongoing in all cases, and police continue to urge the public to preserve camera footage and report suspicious activity immediately.
How the same story is told elsewhere.
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A wave of thefts in downtown Palmas, Brazil, has alarmed local merchants. Security cameras captured the suspects, and police have stepped up patrols, leading to arrests. Over 1,800 thefts were recorded in the first half of 2026.
In Sweden, two crime stories with bizarre details. In one, a thief used a stolen combination lock to secure stolen goods in a locker at another gym, only to be tasered by police. In the other, a young man was seen hanging out of a car window while speeding, later crashing after running a red light.
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