Authorities in the Mexican state of Jalisco are investigating a series of extrajudicial detentions in the municipality of Lagos de Moreno, where an unidentified individual or group intercepted alleged motorcycle thieves, restrained them, and left them tied to utility poles in public streets. The incidents followed a similar pattern and occurred at least five times since mid-June.
According to official reports, the first case occurred on June 13, when a young man was found tied up in the street with visible signs of assault. A cardboard sign beside him labeled him a “thief,” and the same word had been painted across his forehead. After that incident, similar cases began to occur.
Repeated Incidents
On June 17, at least three additional cases were reported. Two 18-year-old men were found bound with gray industrial tape, their mouths covered, and with mouse whiskers drawn on their faces. That same day, a 23-year-old man was found under similar circumstances, accompanied by a message accusing him of motorcycle theft. A fifth incident with nearly identical characteristics was reported on June 19.
In every case, the individuals were restrained with multiple layers of industrial adhesive tape and left in public places, usually tied to streetlight poles. Nearby, the perpetrator or perpetrators left signs directly accusing them of motorcycle theft and, in some cases, motorcycles that the messages claimed had been stolen.
The victims displayed visible injuries, including bruises, cuts, and signs of bleeding. Emergency responders treated them after they were found, and they were later released.
Authorities Search for Those Responsible
The Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it has opened an investigation. Officials stated that, regardless of the accusations written on the signs, the restrained individuals are currently considered victims of assault and unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Authorities are also investigating the alleged motorcycle thefts mentioned in the messages, although no formal criminal charges against the victims have been announced.
Jalisco Security Secretary Juan Pablo Hernández said that an operation is underway to identify and locate those responsible. Investigators are examining whether the incidents were carried out by a single individual or by an organized group, given the consistent pattern across all five cases.
According to preliminary findings, the perpetrators intercepted the suspected individuals, restrained them, and abandoned them in public as a form of public humiliation. Some of the incidents were captured by surveillance cameras and videos later circulated on social media.
“Batman of Lagos” Nickname Circulates Online
On social media, users began referring to the unknown individual as the “Batman of Lagos” or “Mexican Batman,” comparing the actions to the DC Comics vigilante who operates outside the law. However, authorities have rejected the nickname and emphasized that the actions under investigation constitute criminal offenses.
Debate Over Vigilante Justice
The incidents have sparked significant public debate. While some residents expressed support for the actions as a response to crime and insecurity, others warned about the dangers of vigilante justice and the violation of fundamental rights.
State officials stressed that taking justice into one’s own hands is illegal and can lead to serious criminal consequences while also interfering with legitimate law enforcement investigations. They urged citizens to report crimes through the appropriate legal authorities.
Previous Vigilante Cases in Mexico
Similar incidents have occurred in different parts of Mexico over the past decade.
In 2016, the so-called “Marquesa Vigilante” shot and killed four alleged robbers aboard a public transportation vehicle on the Mexico–Toluca Highway. That same year, the “Naucalpan Vigilante” killed an alleged criminal during a robbery on public transportation.
In 2018, a private security guard intervened during an attempted robbery in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City, fatally shooting one of the attackers.
More recent cases include a 2021 incident in Tonanitla, where a passenger confronted armed robbers on public transportation, the “Cleaner of Morelos” case in 2022, involving the killings of alleged sexual offenders, and a 2024 incident on the Mexico–Puebla Highway, where an armed civilian fought back during an attempted robbery.
Source: es-us.noticias.yahoo
