Tractor thefts have become a routine and are frightening in Rio Claro, SP; producer loses R$ 220 thousand The peaceful scenario in the Mata Negra region, in the Ajapi district, in Rio Claro (SP), hides a routine of concern among rural producers about safety. A series of tractor thefts in the last eight months is making residents change their routine. One producer suffered an estimated loss of R$220,000. They ask for more security in rural areas. ? Follow g1 São Carlos and Araraquara on Instagram The Civil Police of Rio Claro said they have recorded five tractor thefts in the district this year and that two have been recovered. They continue to investigate the other cases. The Public Security Secretariat (SSP) reported that every reported case is rigorously investigated by the Civil Police. "Security forces constantly monitor crime rates and adopt strategies to combat all types of crime, including actions to prevent crimes against property," he said in a statement. He also reported that, in the first five months of 2026, the Rio Claro region saw a 1.39% drop in vehicle thefts and a 2.50% drop in vehicle thefts. No machines on property Security cameras on a property captured a family's tractor being observed and illuminated by two people with a flashlight at night. (See video above). Tractor theft worries the Rio Claro district and generates losses; camera catches criminals monitoring locations Nilson Porcel/EPTV Insecurity directly affected the routine of rural producer Roberto Eduardo Francisco, who made the decision to remove machinery from his property to prevent further theft. "Now, due to insecurity, I leave it in Araras, at my parents' house. It no longer stays here because they are constantly stealing," he explained. The strategy, however, hinders production. "Because every time we have to use it, it has to come from Araras to here and then it ends up generating losses, right?" For those who permanently reside in the village, there is no option to transfer their work vehicles, leaving only the continuous fear of new approaches and fear for the physical integrity of family members. "If we still have something like that, we have fear, everything, but it's not that much. We have more fear of doing harm, surrendering people, hurting. My mother-in-law lives there, her mother is elderly too. And we live in fear nowadays, right?", said housewife Giulia Cardozo. Rural producer Junior Seneda was taken hostage for around 1 and a half hours before they took a tractor. "And since then, this situation has become increasingly tense. There have already been seven tractors," he said. More news from the region: TRAGEDY: Father who died in a serious accident will be buried; son is hospitalized ACCIDENT: Four civil police officers are injured after a vehicle falls into a stream in an accident DISMISSAL: 'We are desperate': family searches for missing rural worker Loss of R$ 220,000 Tractor thefts are a concern in the district of Rio Claro, SP Nilson Porcel/EPTV Retired Margarete Seneda reports the drama of her cousin, who saw the effort of a lifetime disappear after having the vehicle taken without having insurance coverage. "His tractor was worth R$220,000, a little more. He lost everything, because he didn't have insurance. He almost went into depression, because it's difficult, right? He works all his life with a lot of assets, right? And he lost it, poor thing," he said. The community demands measures to contain the wave of crimes. "We wanted to have a patrol here, at least three times a night, or a guard post in Ajapi, because Ajapi is not that far away. Then they could do the patrol here, on the staff here, because we are quite scared", said Margarete. Regarding the demand from residents for more policing, we received no response from either the police or the Public Security Secretariat. See the full EPTV2 report: Tractor theft worries rural producers in Rio Claro EPTV VIDEOS: