Greetings. I`ve been to Brazil twice for a total of one month- and traveled widely from Sao Paulo to Fortaleza. During this time, I was robbed three times, and punched gratuitously once. That said, I still recommend people interested in going to Brazil to go there, without hesitation...the food, the climate, the landscapes, beaches, and people/culture all make it worthwhile. Yet, those traveling to Brazil need to be fully aware of how best to travel there. Briefly, here`s some advice based on my experience and that of other Brazilians I know. When in large cities, leave all valuables in your hotel room (day and night). This includes glasses, cameras, watches and of course, your wallet/passport. The only exception to this is if you are sure to walk *only* in very busy areas. I was recently mugged on a quiet residential street very near Santa Teresa in Rio in mid-afternoon. Once away from the crowd, even if you`re 2 or 3 people, you are a target. Muggings generally involve knives, though guns are also used- esp. in Rio. Apparently, it`s rare that any violence occurs, but it is common that you lose all your valuables (which they convert to cash immediately). The typical mugger is a 13-year-old male, and they work in groups of 4-6. Finally, they know about money belts, so hide your money in your sock (they`ve been known to steal your sneakers if they look expensive). As for the other two times I was robbed, in one case, someone broke into my hotel room (this is rather common in cheaper hotels- if in one without a safe in the room (rooms less than 80-100 reais per night), then give your valuables to the front desk for safe keeping. The other occasion was a pickpocket, in a large street party in Salvador. Again, do not take your wallet in public in large cities in Brazil, only take some cash (as little as possible) and a credit card, if necessary (pickpockets are common in very busy areas- don`t have large bills in any easily accessible pocket). To recap, take no valuables with you in public in large Brazilian cities, stay in busy areas, and enjoy all that Brazil has to offer. Happy trails, Paul ps: for me, the best of Brazil is in small towns along the coast- not in large cities; and of the large cities, Salvador is the best. pps: `Help!` is `se-cou-dow` and if you sense you`re about to get mugged, you might try yelling that (and running). ppps: Don`t leave valuables in your rented car.