Woman Mugged on TV in Brazil While Complaining About Crime Rates (VIDEO)
A woman was mugged on TV ironically while being interviewed about the recent spike in crime rates in Rio de Janeiro.
The unidentified woman was complaining about the lack of police presence in the area when a theif ran up behind her and snatched a gold necklace from around her neck. She was being interviewed by RJTV news reporter Eduardo Tchao when the incident occurred.
Tchao is seen chasing the man who sprinted down a busy street while clutching the stolen jewelry. The thief eventually dropped the necklace and scurried away and although it broke, the jewelry was returned to the woman.
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Police were called to the scene and they are said to be investigating the alarming incident, however, the thief is believed to still be on the loose.
High crime rates are a growing problem in Rio, with gang and drug-related offenses frequently occurring. Violent attacks on police posts are also said to be a growing problem.
In March, the governor of Rio de Janeiro State, Sérgio Cabral, asked President Dilma Rousseff for federal troops to help end the attacks on police units overseeing slums across Rio ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Tens of thousands of avid soccer fans are expected to pass through the South American nation between June 12 and July 13 to watch 32 teams from around the globe compete for the World Championship title. The crime problem continues to raise safety concerns.
In addition to FIFA, Rio is also set to host the Summer Olympics in 2016 and critics are demanding improved government efforts to curb crime rates.
In August 2013 406 killings took place in the city and surrounding state, which was a 40 percent increase from 2012.
During that same month at least 629 robberies took place on public transport and muggings were up nearly 40 percent, Daily Mail UK reported.
