TV Reporter Robbed on Camera Just Before Going on Air (Video)

A live news broadcast in Rio de Janeiro took a terrifying turn when a man on a motorbike attempted to snatch a reporter’s phone—just as the cameras were rolling.

Clara Nery, a journalist for Brazilian network Band Rio, was seconds away from going live when a thief sped past and tried to rip her phone from her hand in broad daylight.

“In the video, you can see the moment he puts his hand on my phone and takes it from me. Luckily, I was holding on tightly,” Nery told her station.

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Despite the shocking moment, Nery managed to keep a grip on her device, and the would-be thief fled the scene empty-handed. She later recovered her phone and was physically unharmed.

“It was a real scare to go live,” Nery wrote in an Instagram post after the incident. “But the important thing is that everything turned out okay!”

She went on to thank her supporters and local law enforcement for their quick response. “Thanks for the messages and support from my coworkers, the Military Police, and the Civil Police,” she added. Nery also urged viewers to help identify the suspect: “Let’s share his face—he wants to be known.”

The brazen attempt comes amid a surge in phone thefts across Rio. According to data from the Rio de Janeiro Public Security Institute, over 2,300 phones were reported stolen in June 2025 alone—a staggering 27 percent increase from the same time last year.

Nery’s close call is a stark reminder of the rising threat journalists and everyday citizens face while simply going about their day. Thankfully, this time, the story had a safe ending—and a very public call for justice.