With the World Cup in Brazil fast approaching, local police have been advising first-time tourists to Sao Paulo not to bring attention to themselves while getting robbed.
A brochure that Brazilian embassies and consulates are handing out instructs, “Do not react, scream or argue” while being mugged. Mario Leite, who is in charge of World Cup security, told BBC News that reacting to robbers may cause violence. There’s been an increase recently in “latrocinios,” which is when a would-be robbery turns into a homicide.
“Tourists come mainly from Europe and the United States, where they do not see this crime very often,” Leite said. “There is no use crying over spilt milk.”
Brazil has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with 25.2 out of every 100,000 people being killed in 2012.