I live in Rio. I have never been mugged. I have never been a victim of any crime in Rio. I have been in the south of France, I have been in New York, I have been in LA. Each of those three were burglaries. I have never been a victim of violent crime anywhere. People love bad news. Rio is quite safe if you stay out of favelas and do not deal with drug dealers. It's not if you do. those who comment on risks in Switzerland are thinking, I suspect, of drug-infested places such as Zurich train stations. Such is often the case in large cities. Rio is getting better, much better.

I beg to differ, although more pronounced in some areas, crime is ubiquitous in Rio. To live in Rio and never be the victim of a crime is the exception, rather than the rule.

In Rio, know your whereabouts, always be on the lookout, and don't carry any valuables that can't be given up in case of a robbery.

Most importantly, do not offer resistance during a robbery - insulting the robber's ego often turns a simple robbery into an excessively violent crime.

Thanks for keeping the record straight.

I sure hope my love for my hometown never comes in the way of me giving an accurate assessment of my surroundings. Painting a rosy picture of a city which isn't, could really hurt an unsuspecting traveler. And by no means am I implying that people should not travel to Rio, just be aware what awaits you and what could happen to you if you let your guard down. As I disclosed in an earlier post, I was there once for 4 days and did not experience anything unpleasant, but being careful always pays.

I guess you can add me and my wife to the list of exceptions then. Lived in Rio all our lives and the one time we got robbed was in Paris...

As for the rest of your post, I guess that applies for pretty much any large city in the world.

What! - - - - Who goes to Rio and visits favelas and interacts with drug dealers?

No one I know makes such visits or engages in such activities yet people get robbed in Rio ever day.

I have never been robbed but I consider myself lucky. I am careful but I don't think it is fair to mislead people by making them think they are safe in Rio if they stay out of favelas and stay away from drug dealers.

"Drug infested train stations in Zurich" - ?

Again, you lost me. When I arrive in Zurich I generally take the train from the airport into town. From there I take a cab to my hotel. I have never seen a train station in Zurich being "drug infested" or anything like it. If fact, the Zurich train station is used by many (thousands) of travelers daily from the airport to town and the station is very clean. There are many restaurants and shops in the train station.

I really hope that no one follows your recommendation and believes that Rio is without danger. I also hope no one becomes fearful to visit the Zurich hauptbahnhof. It is NOT drug infested. The amount of police that patrol the train station in Zurich would certainly be aware of such activities and would put a stop to it quickly if it were so, but it isn't.

I am sorry to have to create such a harsh post. However, your post is quite misleading and people will get the wrong impression of Rio and Zurich if your post is not challenged.
.

I fully agree with you.

About Rio getting much better this is confirmed by The Economist article -

A magic moment for the city of God

Proper policing, better government and a stronger economy are starting to make a difference in the more violent and squalid districts of Brazil’s former capital

http://www.economist.com/node/16326428

http://www.economist.com/sites/defau...1024amc600.gif

Rgs,

According to statistics and the economist articles you referenced, crime in Brazil is not as bad as it was only several years ago.

But, - - - is it wise to mislead potential visitors to Brazil into thinking that they are safe if they avoid favelas and drug sellers?

Statistics still show terrible crimes being committed every day against tourists and visitors to Brazil.

The only difference is that those crimes are not committed as often as they were. But - - - - the crimes are still committed.
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The Brazilian police have been studying and trying to adopt the New York City neighborhood policing concept. Hopefully it works in Rio. My fellow AA FT jbcarioca is trying to tell visitors don't get into dangerous situations. You would be surprised at the number of people (likely young and dumb) that will go looking for drugs, sex, etc. in bad areas.

With all due respect, the neighborhoods in New York did not have favelas sprinkled throughout the city. Favelas where the Brazilian police do not enter for fear of their own lives.

Favelas contain enormous quantities of high powered weapons. Favelas also contain a lot of drugs for sale (according to statistics and the State Department). Nor did New York have anywhere near the crime that is in Rio.

Therefore, the Brazilian police cannot adopt a policing policy similar to that of New York. There is no logical comparison of the two cities.

While in Rio, one does not have to “get into” dangerous situations. Danger sometimes just happens for no apparent reason. Even while walking down a well-traveled street in a good neighborhood a person can become the victim of a robbery or worse.

The majority of police make only about one thousand reais each month (about $625.00 U.S.). There is no incentive for the police to place themselves in great danger by invading favelas or raiding drug venues while the probability of getting themselves killed is too great.

As I pointed out, Rio can be dangerous. People should remember that.

Rio can be a wonderful place to visit if one is lucky and careful. But, there are no guarantees.

.

When I read the State Department's warnings on Rio and study statistics, I wonder how I managed to live and work in this city for a couple of decades without problems.......
"Lucky" just doesn't make it for me.
"Common sense" is more like it. Guess this applies to most places in the world (including New York).

I'm confused, are we blaming the victim here or Rio? Is it "common sense" that you don't walk around at night in Rio? Even in the touristy areas?

Here we go again...depends on how you define "night" and "touristy areas".

Yes, common sense goes a long way when you want to avoid trouble....

Blaming, no - but the behaviour of potential victims can stack the odds against them.

It's a shame: this alarmist talk must destroy a lot of the pleasure of visiting Brasil's fabulous cities - in SP some weeks' back a young US couple were ordering a hotel car from the Intercontinental to the MASP (a five minute walk). I offered to walk them there on my way to the Metro. They were horror struck that I would put myself at risk: or perhaps they thought I was part of a complicated scam ...

Walking in Rio at night
 

Almost every night I was in Rio, I walked at least 1km, and often 3-4km. From 8pm to 3am. Never had anything happen. However, I try to be very aware of my surroundings. I keep my cash on hand, under $100, and have no other jewelry or expensive stuff on me. If I didn't feel safe, I grabbed a cab.

No NYC is not, never was, and will never be Rio. But look at what NYC was in the 70s and 80s. Places you would not walk around anytime or even in Manhattan you would avoid after dark and likely also in day. Rio has a long way to go and poorly paid police is just one of many problems. But there are some powerful people in Brazil that at least are willing to try.