In the first two days of Rock in Rio, numerous reports of thefts of cell phones and other valuables have appeared on social networks and been reported to the festival organizers. The crimes occurred mainly in crowd areas at Cidade do Rock, where large audiences gathered to watch the performances. The situation has caused concern among the event's attendees.
The gangs responsible for the thefts have been using the famous punk circles to commit the crimes. This type of dynamic, where the artist asks the audience to open a large circle, ends up creating an opportunity for thieves to act. When the crowd moves to make space, people are distracted and vulnerable, making it easier for criminals to operate.
One of the reported cases occurred on Friday night, September 4th, during Diogo Defante's show on the Supernova Stage, when a man had his watch stolen in the middle of the crowd. On Saturday, a couple was robbed during a circle at the Palco Favela, showing that the crimes occurred on different stages of the festival.
The most detailed case was told by Anderson Ramos, father of a young woman who was robbed during Major RD's show. According to him, his daughter was accompanied by her boyfriend, her brother, and her brother's girlfriend. In the penultimate song, when the artist asked to open a large circle, those who were behind had to take a step back, and it was at that moment that she felt a hand on her bag and a slight push, resulting in the theft.
