Crime in Florianopolis, Brazil

Born and raised here. Can say that during 90's decade the city had it's problem way more evident than now. Nowdays Floripa is like any other city in the world really, there are dangerous neighborhoods where you should be more careful and others safe. Have never been mugged, assaulted, robbed, my car have never been stolen or broken into, neither my house. Do I know someone who has? Yes, mostly women for being easier targets (safer targets for them muglers). Never heard of an armed or violent situation involving a friend. But it does happen, and like in any other city, you have to be careful. Lived in San Diego for a whole year, in the lasted year of Bush presidency... One time late at night, downtown, I was chased by a stranger, had to get into a 7eleven and call a friend to pick me up. Another night after partying with friends, we saw a man shooting several times a guy inside a car near the gaslamp quarter. And another time in Hillcrest a guy was shot in the head while jogging alone at night, I was at a bar 4 blocks away. I loved living there, had a lot of fun, but didn't really feel safe at all, actually I didn't feel safe in any other city in US that I've been and lots of them have higher notes here. The safests cities, big cities, for me so far, has been London and Paris. Even with their problems, and every city has it, they were by far the safest to walk all over at any time of the day.

Floripa's safety greatly depends on the neighborhood (and the side of the neighborhood). For instance, the commercial center (also a huge residential center and the center of the city itself) is the safest place in the whole city and has police patrolling the streets everyday. I live in this neighborhood my whole and never have been a victim of any crime whatsoever (for real). However, if you go to certain neighborhoods to the north and south of the city, you better keep both eyes open. For example, the beach neighborhood of Ingleses, the left side is purely residential, it isn't rich but it isn't poor either, and is very safe, we have a beach house there and nothing ever happened. We even forgot to close and lock a window once in our house there an nothing was stolen or invaded. The right side of Ingleses, however, is poor and dangerous to live, and it's where the vast majority of the problems and crimes happen. The poorest areas of the city are often the most dangerous ones, but you can easily avoid them. So how safe you'll be greatly depends on which part of the city you live in.

Despite what locals will say in order to lie, Florianopolis is anything but safe. Just like pretty much all of Brazil, you're a target for criminals, muggers and even murderers who will go as far as to kill or kidnap children because they take great pleasure of it, and cops will not care about your problems, no matter how serious.