By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-26 20:37:27 | Updated at 2024-11-28 18:48:27
1 day ago
Groups of young burglars in Brazil are disguising themselves as observant Jews to gain access to buildings in an area of São Paulo known for its Jewish community.
The suspects have been seen wearing accessories such kippahs (caps) and tzizits (fringes), to trick doormen in the neighborhood and then ransack apartments of their valuables, police said.
'They wear clothes to blend in with the Jewish community, usually a white shirt, dress pants, a wig — to keep their hair straight,' detective Guilherme Sabino told Brazilian news outlet Metropoles.
'Because they look like the young people from the community, the doormen end up letting their guard down and opening the door.'
At least three such home invasions have been reported since October, according to São Paulo Public Security Department data.
During the first attempt on October 2, the suspects identified themselves as the nephews of a tenant but abandoned the plan after they were denied entry.
The suspects successfully struck on October 18, when one of the thieves gained access to a condo near their initial target and stole $48,000 worth of jewelry and watches while two accomplices stood watch outside.
They later targeted another building and were not allowed inside, but were able to enter a third building, where one of the suspects stole money and jewelry from two apartments.
Authorities in Brazil are investigating several home invasions involving young men disguising themselves as observant Jews. Two suspects (pictured) attempted to break into a home in São Paulo on November 2 before a tenant alerted building security
São Paulo authorities recovered jewelry and gold bars that were reportedly stolen from homes by a group of thieves who disguised themselves as observant Jews to convince doormen to allow them inside buildings
One of the brazen attempts was caught on camera November 2, when two young men were seen entering a building in Higienopolis, a neighborhood in downtown São Paulo known for its Jewish community.
The doorman thought the suspects had just moved into a condo there and allowed them inside.
The doorman was later alerted by a tenant after the men attempted to break into their apartment.
The two suspects were about to walk out through the front entrance when they were intercepted by the doorman.
One of the thieves who was able to walk out of the condominium returned with two of accomplices and used an iron bar to break a glass door and attack the doorman.
Building manager Severino da Silva said the apartment had not been occupied by tenants a week before the burglary attempt.
'This duo attacked the building just a week after the property had been rented,' da Silva told the news outlet UOL.
'They only managed to get in because they identified themselves as the new tenants. Since the doorman didn't know them yet, he ended up letting them in.'
On November 5, São Paulo law enforcement served a search warrant at the home of two of the suspects and recovered a cellphone that contained photos of jewelry allegedly stolen from several homes
A doorman (pictured in the dark clothing) confronts a burglary suspect after a tenant alerted the worker of a robbery attempt at their home in the São Paulo neighborhood of Higienopolis on November 2
The São Paulo Civil Police identified three of the suspects and searched the home of two siblings, aged 21 and 22, on November 5.
They recovered a fake gun, a wig, jewelry, gold bars, the cover of a bulletproof vest and cellphones.
One of the phones contained images of the suspects flashing the jewelry they intended to sell using social media.
Investigators discovered that one of the two brothers had recently purchased a vehicle for 100,000 Brazilian reals, or around $17,000.
Brazilian criminal analyst Guaracy Mingardi told UOL that the thieves area very well trained in pulling off the heists.
'The members of this gang know how to blend in, as if they were part of the environment,' Mingardi said.
'When they walk around in a Jewish neighborhood in an upscale area of São Paulo wearing a kippah, they avoid arousing suspicion, even from the police.'
