Moment a terrified teacher is grabbed from behind by robbers during online class on Zoom in Brazil

Moment a terrified teacher is grabbed from behind by robbers during online class on Zoom – before gang is rounded up when pupils call police in Brazil

  • Mario Candido Santos, 51, was teaching an online accountancy class at the time
  • Footage shows the professor being pounced on by thieves at his Sao Paulo home
  • Mario’s 23-year-old daughter, who is pregnant, was also taken hostage in the raid

This is the moment a teacher giving an online class is snuck up on from behind and immobilised by a gang of burglars.

The incident took place in the south-eastern Brazilian city of Sao Paulo on Wednesday night.

Two men and three teenagers took part in the robbery at the house of 51-year-old Mario Candido Santos as he was giving an hour-long online accountancy class to around 20 students.

In the footage, Mario, who is a professor at a private university, is seen talking to his students when the gang storms into the room. One of the men puts his hand over the teacher’s mouth as the others variously threaten him and rummage around his house in search of valuables.

The shocking footage shows the robbers sneaking up on the professor from behind during an online class

Mario Candido Santos is seen talking to students when the gang storms into the room

Mario Candido Santos is seen talking to students when the gang storms into the room

One of the men puts his hand over the teacher's mouth as the others variously threaten him and rummage around his house in search of valuables

One of the men puts his hand over the teacher’s mouth as the others variously threaten him and rummage around his house in search of valuables

The robbers then cover the teacher's head with what appears to be a white sheet

The robbers then cover the teacher’s head with what appears to be a white sheet

The gang did not realise that the unfolding scenes were being transmitted via Mario's Notebook to his students, who called the police. Above, the footage shows police arriving at the scene

The gang did not realise that the unfolding scenes were being transmitted via Mario’s Notebook to his students, who called the police. Above, the footage shows police arriving at the scene

Mario told local media he heard the burglars say: ‘Be quiet. This is a robbery. We’re going to clean out your house. Where’s your daughter? Where’s the money? And where’s the other stuff?’

Mario’s 23-year-old daughter, who is eight months pregnant, was also taken hostage in the raid. The gang tied their hands and covered their heads in the kitchen of the property.

The professor told local media: ‘It turned into a night of terror because they went to grab my daughter and they brought her to me. They spent the whole time saying: “Either you hand over money, or I’ll hurt your daughter”.’

However, the gang did not realise that the unfolding scenes were being transmitted via Mario’s Notebook to his students, who called the police.

When the police arrived at the scene, one of the suspects surrendered and the others attempted to flee via the back of the house.

When the police arrived at the scene, one of the suspects surrendered and the others attempted to flee via the back of the house

When the police arrived at the scene, one of the suspects surrendered and the others attempted to flee via the back of the house

One of the suspects being led away in handcuffs

One of the suspects being led away in handcuffs 

The professor described the incident as a 'night of terror'

The professor described the incident as a ‘night of terror’ 

Mario's 23-year-old daughter (above), who is eight months pregnant, was also taken hostage in the raid

Mario’s 23-year-old daughter (above), who is eight months pregnant, was also taken hostage in the raid

However, the police managed to arrest all of the suspects, including a 21-year-old, an 18-year-old and three 16-year-olds. They are also investigating the possible involvement of another 18-year-old, who was found outside the property.

The police also managed to retrieve the goods the gang had stolen, which included watches, mobile phones and cash.

The two men of legal age have been placed in preventive detention. They will be tried for robbery and corruption of minors.