I make no secret that I think vigilante justice is what the world needs, sometimes. A four-year stint in Guadalajara, Mexico, did nothing to dilute that idea, and it appears I'm not the only one. A 'Mexican Batman' or 'Batman of Lagos de Moreno' was recently crowned, and he or she is looking out for motorcyclists.
This is a story for vigilante lovers and motorcyclists alike, because the 'Mexican Batman' is doing God's work for us. Lagos de Moreno is a city in the state of Jalisco, with a population of around 120,000. If you're planning on stealing a motorcycle in the city, also plan on being duct-taped to a lamppost.
Over the past two weeks, five people have been duct-taped to lamp posts in Lagos de Moreno, according to local media reports. Photos circulating online show men tied to lampposts with tape, who have their mouths taped. The men showed signs of being beaten and had whiskers drawn on their faces. But it appears these weren't totally senseless crimes.
Many the men who were found tied up had the word 'ratero' drawn on their faces, which literally means 'rat' in Spanish, but means 'thief' in Spanish slang. There was also a motorcycle found parked near all the victims and signs describing the theft they were accused of committing; authorities have confirmed that at least some of the motorcycles were confirmed stolen. Notice, I called the would-be thieves "victims", well, that's because technically they are.
Although most of the reactions to 'Mexican Batman's' actions are positive across all social media platforms, with many exclaiming that the vigilante is doing what the police won't, legally, it's a different matter. The would-be thieves have technically been assaulted and unlawfully restrained, and haven't been convicted of theft yet. So, the police are investigating the vigilante, and we have to expect that, if caught, he/she will face legal consequences.
