crime

08/08/2012 / USA

Wary of walking home alone after dark? Call the Brooklyn Bike Patrol

 
The Brooklyn Bike Patrol is, for lack of a better term, an escort service. Just a dial away, it is a free service made up entirely of volunteers who ride out to meet clients as they arrive at their local subway station, and then escort them safely to their homes. Talk about being a good Samaritan. Read more…
Contributors

Jay Ruiz

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23/08/2011 / USA

From ‘flash mob’ to ‘flash rob’

 
A “flash mob” is generally defined as a group of people who suddenly gather in a public arena to stage an act of performance art, briefly interrupting every day routine. In the US however, some young people have put a new twist on the movement, transforming the idea of a flash mob into a “flash rob”. Watch the videos...
Contributors

Jorge Ribas

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22/08/2011 / VENEZUELA

Thugs in their lifetime, worshipped as saints today

 
As Venezuela’s urban crime rate soars, devotion to a very particular group of saints known as the “Santos Malandros” or “Corte Malandra” is becoming widespread. These “holy thugs” wearing dark sunglasses, baseball caps and guns tucked in their belts might have been petty criminals during their lifetime, but are now considered modern-day Robin Hoods. Read more...
Contributors

Teresa V.

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04/04/2011 / RUSSIA

Russia gets its first real-life superhero

 
The Russian Web is abuzz with talk about the country’s first real-life superhero: Mstitel (Avenger in Russian), a masked crime-fighter from the south-western Russian city of Chelyabinsk. Real vigilante, or online hoax? Read more…
Contributors

Dmitry Churin

Elena Kozhevina

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04/04/2011 / IVORY COAST

Armed looters go on rampage in Abidjan

In Abidjan, the Ivory Coast’s economic capital, terrified residents have been in lockdown since presidential contender Alassane Ouattara’s forces descended on the city on Thursday, March 31.  Our Observer in the western district of Yopougon witnessed scenes of looting that he described as “apocalyptic”. Read more…

Contributors

Lookman

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26/11/2010 / BRAZIL

Close-up shot: Police take back Rio gangland

 
Police launched a massive anti-drug raid in the Rio di Janeiro shantytown of Vila Cruzeiro on Thursday, wrapping up five days of violent clashes between police and drug dealers that left at least 25 dead. Our Observers on the ground followed the operation and sent us their accounts, photos and videos. Read more…
Contributors

Pedro Serra

Caio Amy

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13/10/2010 / FRANCE

Burglar caught breaking into shop... along with scooter and dog

A burglar caught on security camera breaking into two furniture stores in the French city of La Rochelle was arrested on October 11. An ordinary story…if it weren’t for the robber’s somewhat unorthodox methods, which have made him the laughing stock of the French Web. Read more...

Contributors

Team Observers

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06/05/2010 / BRAZIL - COLOMBIA

Can cable cars cut crime in Rio’s favelas?

After trying in vain to bring down the rampant crime rate in Brazil's favelas by imposing a heavy police presence, president Lula da Silva is now taking an entirely different approach. His new plan is to build cable cars. Read more...

Contributors

David Amen

Daniel Casas

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03/05/2010 / CHINA

The family photo that caught a thief red-handed

While an Indian tourist was dozing off awaiting her plane in a Chinese airport, a thief snook up and stole her laptop. Luckily for her, there was a family taking photos behind her while she slept. Read more...

Contributors

Team Observers

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07/01/2010 / EGYPT

Amateur video: minutes after shooting of Coptic Christians

These amateur images were filmed just after a shooting which killed seven people, six of them Coptic Christians, in a town near Luxor, Upper Egypt. Watch the video...

Contributors

Team Observers

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