This is the bizarre moment a reporter was mugged on a sidewalk in Brazil.
Clara Nery, a television correspondent for the Band network, could be seen typing a message on her cell phone while she waited go to live on the Bora Brasil morning program from the southern Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Botafogo on Monday morning.
A man on a motorcycle appeared out of nowhere in the background and rode down the sidewalk before ripping the device out of Nery’s hands.
However, the speed at which he was traveling prevented him from holding on to the phone.
A stunned Nery screamed and blurted out a cuss word before she reached for the ground to retrieve the device and disappeared from the camera’s view.
Nery said the mugger was unable to escape with her cell phone because she had a firm grip on it.
‘I had my back turned when this man rode by on a motorcycle on the sidewalk and tried to take my phone,’ she said. ‘In the video, you can see the moment he puts his hand on my phone and takes it from me. Luckily, I was holding on tightly.’
A Rio de Janeiro Military Police unit responded to the scene and searched the neighborhood but was unable to locate the suspect.
Band television reporter Clara Nery was typing a message on her cell phone when a mugger (left) attempted to steal the device from her hand
Brazilian journalist Clara Nery said surveillance camera images were reviewed and they were able to get a good view of the mugger’s face
The mugger was captured on camera as Clara Nery, a reporter with Brazil’s Band television network, was preparing to go live from Rio de Janeiro
Surveillance cameras were subsequently reviewed, and authorities were able to get a clear shot of the suspect.
‘Luckily, and despite his lack of skill, I managed to retrieve the phone,’ Nery said. ‘But we already have the security camera footage, the camera that managed to focus on his face.’
According to the Rio de Janeiro Public Security Institute, there was a 27 percent increase in cell phone thefts in June compared with the same period in 2024.
At least 2,300 mobile devices were stolen last month in comparison with 1,808 in June of last year.
