I'm originally from Brazil, but don't live there anymore - partly due to the violence.

Maybe it's not so high crime as you think. Where I'm from, if a robber isn't happy with what you have on you, they will either force you to withdraw as much cash as possible from ATMs over the course of hours, take you on a shopping spree or just outright shoot you. People will often carry "robber's money" or even entire "robber's wallets" with them in order to be prepared for these encounters.