A Brazilian thief dubbed “Catwoman” for her all-black gloves, attire, and sleeve of tattoos was arrested after she allegedly orchestrated a series of well-planned apartment heists, stealing at least $200,000 in jewelry, pistols, and luxury handbags.
Authorities had been searching for Paola Carita Gobel for about a year. They found her at her boyfriend’s home in São Paulo, the country’s largest city, according to Brazilian media reports.
Luan de Melo, 36, who was previously convicted on drug trafficking charges, was also brought in for questioning to determine whether he was involved in the heists.
Authorities said Gobel attended locksmith courses to prepare for the string of robberies, which took place across at least three Brazilian municipalities.
She allegedly deceived doormen by chatting them up, telling them that she was visiting friends in each complex before slinking upstairs. After ransacking a particular apartment, authorities said Gobel would calmly walk back out the front lobby in order to avoid raising suspicions.
Fábio Pinheiro Lopes, director of the São Paulo State Department of Criminal Investigations, warned that doormen in the city needed to take the threat of theft more seriously.
“We have to instruct the doormen to exercise caution with the entry of people who arrive, check if they really are visitors, and talk to the resident first before allowing entry,” he reportedly said.
Authorities reportedly found perfumes, watches, and other luxury items among Gobel’s haul.
The alleged thief will be brought to Minas Gerais, a state in southeastern Brazil, where a warrant had been issued for her arrest.
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