Phone theft becomes a major issue in Brazil's presidential election as voter safety worries grow
Mobile phone thefts have raised public safety fears in Brazil, and both Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro have promised tough action ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
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The growing use of smartphones in Brazil has become a source of worry for people. A rise in mobile phone thefts has brought the question of public safety to the fore. People increasingly feel that using a phone while walking on the street, travelling on public transport or standing in a crowded place has become dangerous.
The issue is no longer limited to law and order. It is also becoming an important political issue in the election.
According to figures from the Brazilian Public Security Forum, about 830,000 mobile phone thefts were recorded across the country in 2025. Thefts have been declining since 2023, but concern about people's safety remains.
Mobile phones have become an important part of daily life in Brazil. Smartphones are widely used for social media, banking transactions, sending money and online shopping. A stolen phone therefore means more than the loss of an expensive device. It also puts personal information and the security of bank accounts at risk.
Brazil makes wide use of a digital payment system called Pix. After a phone is stolen, there is a fear that thieves will misuse the banking apps on it. In some cases, phone thefts have been accompanied by financial fraud.
An incident involving Brazilian content creator Tabata Lenk became an example. While she was stuck in a traffic jam in the city of Sao Paulo, thieves on a motorbike broke her car window and stole her phone. About 2,000 Brazilian reais were then withdrawn from her bank account. A video of the incident went viral on social media and brought the issue of phone theft back into discussion.
The issue is now becoming important in Brazil's 2026 presidential election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his rival Flavio Bolsonaro have both promised tough action on the problem.
Lula has brought in a law with heavy penalties for stolen electronic devices and started a national registration system to keep a record of such devices. Under the law, offenders can face up to ten years in jail. Flavio Bolsonaro, on the other hand, has proposed a sentence of at least eight years for mobile phone theft.
About one-third of the country's phone thefts take place in the city of Sao Paulo. Police are running drives to seize stolen phones, but returning them to their rightful owners remains a challenge.
