19-Year-Old Assaulted in Bauru Cell Phone Theft; Suspect Arrested After Chase

A 19-year-old woman was assaulted and threatened with death during the theft of her iPhone 15 Pro, valued at approximately R$ 6,000, on Thursday afternoon, May 23rd, in Bauru, São Paulo. The suspect, a 21-year-old man, was apprehended by military police after being located and pursued. The incident occurred around 4:30 PM as the victim was leaving work. According to the police report, a man approached her from behind, grabbed her arm, and attempted to steal her phone. When she resisted, she was punched, shoved, thrown against a parked car, and had her neck and arms held. The assailant also issued death threats and demanded the phone's unlock password, which the victim refused to provide. After the theft, the victim provided the suspect's description to the police. Officers located a man matching the description in Jardim Niceia. He reportedly disobeyed a stop order and fled on foot, discarding the phone during the chase. The phone was recovered and identified by the victim. The suspect was apprehended in a wooded area after being reached by police. He confessed to stealing the phone but denied assaulting or threatening the victim. The victim sustained bruises and abrasions, confirmed by a medical examination, and showed signs of emotional distress. The suspect was charged with aggravated cell phone robbery and resisting arrest. Authorities are seeking to convert his arrest into preventive detention. He has prior charges for qualified theft and another cell phone robbery, both from 2025.