Brazil sees rise in bulletproof cars

By Gary Duffy BBC News, Sao Paulo

Aluizio Coelho recalls in vivid detail the incident which persuaded him to buy a bulletproof car.

He was driving with his wife into the centre of Sao Paulo when a motorbike pulled up alongside his vehicle.

Brazil has an estimated 50,000 bulletproof vehicles on its roads

"Two guys were on the motorbike, and the guy behind had a gun. He asked for everything we had, and of course we said to him we will give you everything.

"But the problem was that the guy had such a nervous attitude, and it looked like he was using drugs. The risk of the situation was not only if we wanted to give away whatever we had, but if the guy was sure in his mind that he didn't need to shoot us.

"That was really what brought me to have a bulletproof car."