Lisbon, April 10, 2026 (Lusa) - A residents' association in one of the most popular areas of the Portuguese capital warned on Friday of "worsening insecurity" in Lisbon's Baixa-Chiado district due to an increase in robberies.

The association is demanding the urgent installation of a CCTV system first announced 20 years ago but never implemented.

"In recent weeks we have had nearly a dozen reported situations, including vandalism, attempted robberies, and drug use in public," the Association for the Revitalisation of Baixa Pombalina (ADBP) deputy leader, Vasco de Mello said.

He pointed to a robbery at the Dolar jewellery shop on Tuesday afternoon in which a man smashed the shop window and stole jewellery, including three Rolex watches and a gold chain, before fleeing on a scooter. The thief stole more than "€40,000 in 30 seconds."

"The problem comes mainly from the Mouraria area, moves to Martim Moniz, and is now reaching Praça da Figueira and nearby areas," he said, noting two or three robberies also occurred in the Chiado area.

The ADBP official said insecurity in the Santa Maria Maior stems from a "high level of drug trafficking" in Mouraria that moved into the Baixa-Chiado area.

He added that the situation "worsened very quickly, causing alarm." He said it is "inconceivable" that a European capital like Lisbon lacks widespread CCTV systems.

"There is a video protection project that is almost 20 years old, and we still have not implemented a CCTV system in Lisbon, which is strange," he said.

He said Lisbon’s city council claims the project is "currently stuck with the government."

The association requested a meeting with the previous interior minister but received no response. They now intend to make a "new request" to the current minister.

The CCTV project began during António Costa's first government. The current mayor, Carlos Moedas, announced he has asked the interior ministry for surveillance in more areas such as Martim Moniz, Mouraria, Arroios, São Domingos de Benfica and Avenida da Liberdade.

Lisbon currently has 64 cameras in the Bairro Alto, Santa Catarina, and Cais do Sodre, but the full plan involves 250 cameras.

He also warned about "petty crime" affecting the city, such as the sale of counterfeit products and illegal street vending.

"There seems to be total freedom in this activity, often brazenly in front of shops selling the same products," he said, adding that this causes "enormous losses" to businesses that pay taxes and workers' wages.

In a statement, the association noted a worrying frequency of robberies causing apprehension among business owners and residents.

The group said it "does not understand the delays" in the downtown area since cameras "proved to be a deterrent elsewhere," and called for determined action between the city council and the interior ministry.

The association noted that although it had spoken with the police and the council, they see "passivity from the authorities."

"This feeling of impunity could lead people to take the law into their own hands," it warned. If people "do not see action from political, police, or judicial powers, they will eventually have to act themselves."

LFS/LYT // AYLS

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