New footage of the robbery at the Mário de Andrade Library in December 2025 was released, showing criminals leaving the scene and abandoning some artwork on the street.
The robbery at the Mário de Andrade Library in São Paulo, which occurred on December 7, 2025, involved two armed men who stole 13 artworks, including pieces by renowned artists Henri Matisse and Candido Portinari. Recent video footage aired by Fantástico revealed the various stages of the robbery, highlighting how the thieves fled the library and abandoned some of the stolen items on the street shortly after the act. The incident raised concerns over security measures in public institutions, especially those holding valuable cultural artifacts.
Investigations led by local police have identified Felipe dos Santos Fernandes Quadra and Gabriel Pereira as the main suspects. Authorities believe Pereira orchestrated the robbery and enlisted Quadra's help. Within a day of the heist, Quadra was located in São Paulo's eastern zone and arrested, with evidence from surveillance footage confirming his involvement. However, as of the latest reports, neither suspect has been definitively tied to the recovery of all stolen artworks, and investigators continue to pursue leads to apprehend Pereira, who remains at large.
This incident underscores the vulnerability of cultural institutions to theft and raises critical questions about the adequacy of protection and deterrent measures for libraries housing valuable art collections. As the investigation unfolds, community members and cultural institutions alike are calling for strengthened security protocols to prevent similar crimes in the future, emphasizing the need to safeguard national treasures against such brazen acts of crime.
