Hearts, minds and a free appliance

After police took over two notorious Rio slums over Thanksgiving, there were widespread accusations that cops robbed residents' homes. Yesterday, the Army unit tasked with keeping peace in those communities has made a stern public statement that it won’t tolerate similar antics from its own troops.

After an Army lieutenant was accused of stealing an air conditioner from a house in the slum known as Complexo do Alemao, Army officials suspended the officer’s entire unit yesterday — save one guy, probably the whistleblower — while authorities investigated the matter.