Mexican ‘Batman’ cleans up the streets by duct-taping bike thieves to lampposts
A mystery vigilante dubbed 'Batman' has become an unlikely folk hero in Mexico after allegedly hunting down suspected motorcycle thieves and leaving them taped to lampposts.
Forget the Batmobile, batarangs and billion-dollar gadgets; Mexico's answer to Batman appears to rely on little more than duct tape and a marker pen.
The mystery vigilante has become an overnight internet sensation after allegedly tracking down suspected motorcycle thieves in the Mexican city of Lagos de Moreno, before leaving them humiliated and taped to lampposts alongside the bikes they were accused of stealing.
Over the course of around 10 days, at least five alleged thieves have reportedly been found bound to street poles, some with the Spanish word 'ratero' (thief) written across their foreheads, complete with cartoon moustaches and cat whiskers. In several cases, the recovered motorcycles were left parked directly in front of the suspects, seemingly as evidence of their alleged crimes.
The anonymous crime-fighter has quickly been christened the "Batman of Lagos de Moreno" on social media, where plenty of users have praised the masked vigilante for doing what they believe local authorities have failed to do amid a rise in motorcycle thefts.
Authorities, however, are rather less enthusiastic.
Police have launched an investigation to identify the mystery man, with officials confirming that the people found taped to the poles are being treated as victims of assault, regardless of whether they are also suspected of theft. State Security Secretary Juan Pablo Hernández said investigators have already linked two vehicles to the incidents and are attempting to track down those responsible.
Adding another twist to the story, local authorities have reportedly confirmed that at least some of the motorcycles recovered at the scenes had previously been reported stolen, although that does not prove every person targeted by the vigilante was guilty of the crimes listed on the signs left above them.
For now, Mexico's self-appointed Dark Knight remains at large, while police continue searching for the man who's apparently decided that when it comes to motorcycle thieves, justice is best served with industrial-strength tape rather than handcuffs.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
