Video: Bandit robs a wood store in the Center and uses a sheet to avoid being recognized | Rio de Janeiro

Rio – It looked like a haunting, but it was actually a crime. The security cameras of a wood store in Praça da República, downtown Rio, caught a robbery carried out by a criminal who used a sheet to avoid being recognized in the footage. According to the owner of the establishment, the crime happened on the morning of Sunday (5) and also in the early hours of Monday (6), when the store was closed.

Julio Agra Gomes, owner of ‘El Dragon’, which has been operating there since 1985, says that the criminal broke the side wall of the store to invade the property. Inside the establishment, the “ghost” criminal was filmed on the circuit covered by a sheet crawling. The criminal took computers, cell phones and high-value hardware.

“Normally, here in downtown Rio, we’ve been here for 36 years, we don’t have security. We’ve been here at El Dragon since 1985. (…) We’re already used to similar episodes of invasions and robberies. But this one surprised us,” he says the entrepreneur.

In the images, the criminal appears crawling, covered by a sheet and guiding himself with the help of a flashlight. He crawls around the place, until he reaches a table, where he begins to search for valuables.

“He took around 30 thousand reais worth of objects, including computers, cell phones, hardware and other materials, in addition to the things he destroyed when he entered here”, he assesses.

According to the businessman, the condition of the neighboring property, which collapsed a few months ago, made it easier for the criminal to enter. The facade of the property listed as historical heritage is open.

“They don’t decide what to do with this mansion. It’s a push and shove, because the building is historic. So things are being pushed forward and there’s no point. There’s no way to stay here anymore. I spoke to the owner of the property” , explains Julio, who registered the robbery at the 5th DP (Mem de Sá).

For the businessman, the situation has to be resolved, otherwise it will happen again. “The loss stayed with me. I’m at risk because more things could happen. They make a hole, break the wall and the same thing could happen”, he concluded.

In a statement, the Civil Police reported that the case is being investigated by agents from the 5th DP. Images from security cameras at the site and other properties must be analyzed by investigators.