A Korean IRL streamer named Kang Joel filming in Brazil nearly lost his phone to a would-be thief who approached him while he was climbing into a vehicle. What happened was captured on the livestream and quickly circulated online.
The clip shows the streamer holding his phone mounted on a selfie stick as he enters what appears to be a taxi or rideshare vehicle. A man approaches and demands the phone. Portuguese speakers who watched the video translated the threat as “give me your phone, pass it over or I’ll kill you.”
The driver didn’t hesitate. He pulled away immediately as the streamer scrambled fully into the car. The thief was left empty-handed on the street.
IRL streamers face unique risks when broadcasting in public. A phone on a stick is visible from far away and signals an expensive device. The setup also diverts attention from surroundings since streamers are constantly checking their screen and reading chat. This makes them easy targets in areas where phone snatching is common.
Phone theft is a persistent problem in major Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Thieves use grab-and-run tactics or brief confrontations to snatch devices from tourists and locals alike. The attacks are often opportunistic and happen quickly in crowded areas or at night.
Several viewers claimed this happened near Arcos da Lapa in Rio. The landmark sits in a nightlife district known for bars and street parties. The area also has a reputation for phone muggings, especially after dark when crowds gather.
Travel advisories for Rio typically warn visitors to avoid displaying phones openly in public. Nightlife zones in particular see higher rates of petty crime during late hours. A phone mounted on a stick for continuous filming goes against every safety guideline for the area.
Immediately after escaping, the shaken streamer thanked his driver. He first blurted out “gracias” in Spanish before correcting himself to “obrigado” in Portuguese. The driver remained calm throughout, handling the situation like it was just another Tuesday.
