Rio de Janeiro police officers, attempting to curb a surge in cellphone thefts during Carnival celebrations, deployed an unconventional tactic: dressing as characters from popular culture to blend into the crowds. Officers in the Santa Teresa neighborhood on Friday were observed wearing costumes inspired by the hit Netflix series “Money Heist” and the horror film franchise “Friday the 13th,” according to a statement released by Rio’s civil police on Saturday.
The undercover operation led to the arrest of two individuals accused of snatching cellphones from Carnival revelers. Police followed a woman suspected of theft after she allegedly took a phone from a member of the public, and subsequently observed her passing the device to an accomplice. A search of the pair yielded five stolen cellphones, police said.
This isn’t the first instance of Brazilian law enforcement utilizing costumed officers during Carnival and other large public gatherings. Last Sunday, in São Paulo, officers disguised as “Ghostbusters” apprehended a woman found in possession of 12 stolen cellphones. Prior to that, officers dressed as aliens caught a man with three phones concealed under his clothing, according to reports.
Whereas the tactic appears novel, data suggests a continuing need for increased security measures during Carnival. A 2025 report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety indicates that cellphone thefts, though declining, remain a significant concern. The report documented approximately 850,000 cellphone thefts across Brazil in 2024, down from roughly 980,000 in 2022.
Despite the overall decrease in reported thefts, public anxiety surrounding crime remains high in Brazil. Opinion polls consistently identify violence and criminal activity as the primary concerns of Brazilian citizens.
The Rio de Janeiro police have not announced any further planned deployments of costumed officers, and it remains unclear whether the tactic will be expanded beyond the initial operation in Santa Teresa.
