On Saturday, February 14, during the Carnival celebrations at the Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo, the police made several arrests related to cell phone thefts. The Military Police apprehended four adults after they were caught leaving a Carnival block on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral. Upon being approached by officers, the suspects failed to satisfactorily explain the origin of the stolen cell phones they were carrying, leading to their detention and subsequent transfer to the 16th Police District for further investigation.

Earlier in the day, another incident involving minors occurred when the police detained five youths on suspicion of theft within the same Carnival block area. After being detected by the officers, the minors attempted to flee but were quickly apprehended. A personal search revealed that they were in possession of five stolen cell phones, raising concerns about the safety of participants during the Carnival festivities.

The Ministry of Public Security in São Paulo was alerted to the suspicious activities at the event by municipal agents who reported the theft campaign to the Central Operations Police Military (Copom). The incidents underscore the risks associated with large public gatherings like Carnival, where theft and crime can escalate, prompting local authorities to intensify their surveillance and policing efforts to protect residents and visitors alike.