Aguinaldo Batista of Souza Júnior, known as “Rato”, identified by authorities as one of the most violent thieves in the city of São Paulo, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon (26). The capture took place in Heliópolis, in the south of São Paulo. Ele is suspected of involvement in four cases of robbery, in addition to several robberies and extortion, accumulating a criminal record and multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
Perfil and suspect’s criminal history
The 23-year-old man had been investigated since March 2025 by Polícia Civil of São Paulo. Aguinaldo Batista of Souza Júnior had four arrest warrants issued for crimes committed in neighborhoods in the Sul zone of the capital, including Jardim Colina, Ipiranga and Saúde. Durante the investigative process, he was recognized by several victims of his attacks.
Além In addition, “Rato” already had a specific criminal record for theft, which reinforces his criminal history. The investigations detail the suspect’s involvement in three attempted robberies and one case of completed robbery, highlighting the seriousness of his actions.
Modo performance of the group led by “Rato”
Aguinaldo Batista of Souza Júnior and his associates operated with extreme violence, focusing their actions in the southern and eastern zones of São Paulo. The group’s primary targets were drivers of luxury vehicles and motorcycles. The brutality used during the robberies was a striking feature of their operations.
Outras victims of the group included people approached for stealing rings and cell phones. In December last year, during an attempted robbery that took place at Vila Prudente, Aguinaldo allegedly shot a reserve military police officer, demonstrating the suspect’s dangerousness in confrontations.
Detalhes from police operation and arrest
Aguinaldo Batista’s arrest of Souza Júnior was the result of a meticulous operation mounted by the police. The objective was to surround the suspect in the Heliópolis community, a place where he often hid to escape authorities. The police action was planned to minimize risks and ensure the individual’s arrest.
Durante the siege, “Rato” attempted a desperate escape. Ele got on a motorcycle and tried to escape, but fell from the vehicle during the chase. Sem gave up, continued his attempt to escape on foot, even attacking one of the police officers involved in the operation. However, the agents managed to stop him, ending the chase and ensuring the arrest of the suspect. The police seized the motorcycle used in the escape and Aguinaldo’s cell phone.
Relevância from capture for public safety
The occurrence of the arrest was registered in the 16th Distrito Policial, in Vila Clementino, under the categories of capture of wanted person and location and seizure of object. The head delegate of the 16th Distrito Policial, Zuleika Gonzalez Araújo, highlighted the importance of the prison for the safety of the population.
The delegate stated that the capture of “Rato” is a significant achievement. Ela highlighted that he is considered one of São Paulo’s most violent thieves. The police operation, according to delegate Zuleika Gonzalez Araújo, has the potential to prevent the commission of new crimes and, consequently, save many lives. Investigations will continue to determine Aguinaldo’s involvement in other crimes not yet formally associated with him.