Street crime, scams and expensive visas are why I don't visit Brazil more. I spent about 4 weeks in Rio 4 years ago. It is a lovely town, but you have to be prepared to give it all up, if robbed. This is not only a problem in Brazil, of course. I try to have fairly inexpensive cameras and cheap unlocked phones wherever I go. That way, if robbed, I'm out $100 or $200 at the most.