Mexican Vigilante Ties Five Suspected Thieves to Poles in Public Humiliation

Authorities in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico, have launched a manhunt for a vigilante who has taken justice into his own hands by publicly shaming suspected motorcycle thieves. Over a span of ten days starting June 13, at least five men were found bound with thick tape to streetlight poles, with stolen motorcycles placed beside them. The vigilante, dubbed "the Batman of Lagos de Moreno" by local media, also marked the suspects' faces with cat whiskers and the Spanish word for "thief."

Photos shared by Mexican journalist Luis Cardenas on social media revealed the vigilante’s method, which included leaving the stolen motorcycles next to the tied suspects to highlight their alleged crimes. In one instance, two men were tied back-to-back to a pole with a pink sign hanging above them, while a motorcycle was parked on the sidewalk in front. Passersby alerted police, who freed the men by cutting the tape and provided medical treatment for injuries sustained during the restraint.

Despite the vigilante’s actions, Juan Pablo Hernandez, Mexico’s Secretary of State Security, emphasized that the police consider the tied men victims of a crime and are actively pursuing the individual responsible for the public humiliations. No official criminal investigations have been announced against the suspects for the alleged thefts. So far, no arrests have been made, but police have identified two vehicles believed to be connected to the acts of binding and kidnapping across the city.