23 March 2012
The police have identified six suspects
Brazilian police say they are hunting a gang of mostly blonde young women who have committed a series of kidnaps and robberies in Sao Paulo.
The criminals have been targeting wealthy women in shopping centres, Sao Paulo's anti-kidnap police unit says.
The victims are followed to their cars, where they are robbed and held captive at gunpoint while the gang uses their credit cards to make luxury purchases.
Police said the "blonde gang" consisted of young, educated, middle-class women.
Sao Paulo civil police anti-kidnap division chief Joaquim Dias Alves told BBC Mundo: "One or two speak more than one language, and some have been educated overseas.
"They are really pretty girls, well-dressed and made up," he said.
