Vigilante 'Batman' hunts down 'thieves' and duct tapes them to poles
A mysterious vigilante has been termed Mexico's 'Batman' after hunting down alleged motorcycle thieves and duct taping them to street lights.
At least five men in the Mexican state of Jalisco have been tightly bound to lampposts across the last two weeks after being suspected of stealing the vehicles.
The men, many of whom had their mouths taped shut, were found with the word 'ratero' - Spanish for 'thief' - inked onto their foreheads.
Others had cat whiskers and moustaches drawn onto their faces, while some appeared to be visibly bruised and injured.
The vigilante, who remains anonymous to authorities in Jalisco, also placed warning signs beside each of the suspected thieves, as well as the motorbikes they were accused of stealing beside them as evidence of their crimes.
Local media reported that the perpetrator became angered with what he deemed to be inadequate law enforcement regarding the crimes, and decided to take action himself - like the DC superhero.
The first report came on June 13 in the city of Lagos de Moreno, after a man was found secured to a street light with a sign placed beside him alleging he was a thief.
Four more men were found in comparable circumstances in the days that followed.
A vigilante has been dubbed Mexico's 'Batman' after hunting down alleged motorcycle thieves and duct taping them to street lights
At least five men in the Mexican state of Jalisco have been tightly bound to lampposts across the last two weeks, many of whom had their mouths taped shut
The responsible individual has since been dubbed the 'Batman of Lagos de Moreno' by Mexican journalist Luis Cardenas, who posted a series of pictures of the alleged thieves online.
On June 24, Mr Cardenas wrote on X: 'In Jalisco, after the lack of help from the authorities, an anonymous hero started hunting down motorcycle thieves.
'So far, he's already taken down five in ten days, and they call him the 'Batman of Lagos de Moreno'.'
In one picture posted by Mr Cardenas, a man is bound from his shoulders to the bottom of his legs by duct tape to a street lamp, with what appears to be blood splattered across his chest.
Another picture shows two young men tied to a post - both with their mouths taped shut, whiskers painted on their cheeks and 'ratero' written on their foreheads -with a large, bright pink sign detailing the offence they allegedly committed above their heads.
A further picture shows another man wrapped tightly to a lamppost, with a similar pink sign attached above his head. The motorbike he apparently stole is also parked beside him.
The men have since been freed by emergency services from the tape and treated for injuries. It is not yet clear if any are being investigated for the suspected thefts.
Jalisco prosecutor Salvador González de los Santos has confirmed investigators are reviewing the occurrences.
The vigilante placed warning signs beside each of the suspected thieves, and the motorbikes they were accused of stealing beside them as evidence of their crimes
However, authorities have stressed that the men are currently considered 'victims' as they were unlawfully restrained and assaulted.
There have been no arrests made at present, but local police say two vehicles have been identified which they believe to be connected to the cases.
Motorbike and bicycle thefts are commonplace in Mexico - which has long grappled with high levels of violent crime - with the stolen vehicles often used in further offences.
Jalisco is among Mexico's worst-affected regions for theft, alongside Mexico State - home to the nation’s capital, Mexico City.
More than half of the country's theft occurs in these two states alone.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
