With an improvised structure and vests, criminals deceived dozens of drivers in SP; at least seven vehicles were taken in a single night
An organized gang turned a vacant lot in the Butantã neighborhood, west of São Paulo, into a crime scene last Sunday (22). Using vests and simulating a valet operation, the group deceived drivers who were traveling to concert halls in the region, stealing vehicles after convincing the victims to hand over the keys.
The structure of the coup was set up in the late afternoon, when about 12 members invaded the space after cutting the barbed wire that surrounded the place. To convey confidence and regularity, the criminals organized the entry of cars and made advance charges. The intense flow of vehicles in the vicinity served as a decoy, validating the clandestine operation before the public.
SEE ALSO:
The perception of the crime occurred only at the end of the night, when the victims returned and found the lot empty. According to the Civil Police, the gang operated for a few hours — enough time to screen the internal belongings of the vehicles and remove them from the site. Of the seven cars registered in police reports, two were located in a clandestine dismantlement in the east of the capital.
The agility in disassembling the parts reinforces the suspicion that it was a crime by order. The investigation advanced after the tracking of payments made via Pix on the spot. The amounts were directed to the account of family members of Cléber de Oliveira Silva, 40, appointed as one of the leaders of the scheme and with a record of invasion of property and embezzlement.
Authorities recommend that drivers pay extra attention when using parking services in areas of large events. It is essential to verify that the establishment issues electronic invoices, has clear identification of employees and visible commercial registration. In cases of improvised land without official signage, the recommendation is to look for accredited alternatives, even if far from the final destination.
