A 31-year-old man was arrested by the National Republican Guard (GNR) last Wednesday, July 2, for grab-and-run thefts in Vila do Conde.
The GNR, in a statement, noted that the arrest occurred during an investigation into several grab-and-run thefts in the municipalities of Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim.
The GNR found that “the suspect, under the guise of seeking rental properties, approached elderly people and, exploiting their vulnerabilities, used physical force to snatch gold chains and wallets, fleeing immediately afterward.”
The suspect was detained and has already appeared for a preliminary hearing at the Matosinhos Criminal Investigation Court, where he was remanded in custody.
Grab-and-run theft increased by 8.7% in 2024
The Annual Internal Security Report (RASI) revealed that violent and serious crime rose by 2.6% last year compared to 2023, with 14,385 crimes recorded.
However, overall crime dropped by 4.6%, with 354,878 incidents reported.
Among violent and serious crimes, the most significant increases were in grab-and-run thefts (up 8.7%), vehicle thefts (up 106.3%), commercial or industrial building burglaries (up 21.7%), rape (up 9.9%), and bank or other credit establishment robberies (up 128.6%).
The RASI is prepared by the Internal Security System and approved by the Superior Council for Internal Security, an interministerial body for internal security consultation and chaired by the Prime Minister.
Alongside police directors and heads of the Strategic Defense Intelligence Service and the Security Intelligence Service, this body also includes the Ministers of Internal Administration, Presidency, Justice, National Defense, Finance, Public Works, Transport and Communications, and the Attorney General.
How to prevent grab-and-run theft?
According to information available on the Judiciary Police website, it is advised to walk facing oncoming traffic and to carry a bag or purse in the hand or shoulder against the inner side of the sidewalk.
It also advises against keeping bank card PINs with the cards themselves. If you need to carry large amounts of money, it should be divided among different wallets.
When driving, always keep the doors locked and the windows up. It is further advised not to leave a purse on the passenger seat but to place it on the floor of the vehicle, especially when stopped at traffic lights.
Lastly, if approached by someone in a vehicle asking for directions, maintain at least an arm’s length distance from the vehicle.
