A daring duo of Brazilian brothers turned heroes after tackling a thief who had just snatched a gold chain from a Portuguese tourist in Barcelona. Gabriel and Gustavo Galindo, both black belts in jiu-jitsu from Rio de Janeiro, were sightseeing when they heard the victim screaming for help.
Viral footage shows Gabriel tripping the fleeing suspect and pinning him to the ground with a rear naked chokehold—a move that restricts blood flow and can be dangerous if misused. The thief remained restrained for about 10 minutes as bystanders expressed their outrage, before police arrived to take him into custody.
Gabriel later told Brazilian media, “I put him on the ground to introduce him to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. By this point, the crowd was already furious at the guy.” Despite the chaos, the brothers didn’t stick around for questioning, leaving as soon as law enforcement arrived.
Barcelona, which reports 8.56 crimes per 100,000 residents, has been ranked the most dangerous city in Spain. Recent statistics show an 8.8% decrease in criminal incidents in early 2025 compared to last year, with thefts down 6.8% and violent robberies 5.5%.
