London tourists expecting postcard views got a dose of comic book justice instead—Batman and Robin, in full costume, swooped in to take down a scammer running a street hustle near Parliament.
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But don’t worry, Gotham isn’t outsourcing its vigilantes. This was actually a clever sting by the Metropolitan Police, who disguised two undercover officers in superhero gear to bust illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge, a hotspot for tourist-targeting tricksters.
In a video released Friday, Inspector Darren Watson (a.k.a. Batman) and Police Constable Abdi Osman (a.k.a. Robin, bucket hat and all) are seen weaving through the crowd and pouncing on a street hustler mid-scam. Their mission? Take down a “cup and ball” con artist, whose game of chance was anything but fair.
Here’s how the scam works: the dealer shuffles a ball under three cups, tourists place bets, and- poof!- the ball’s gone. “It’s rigged to rob,” confirmed the Met Police, adding that these scams often involve fake winners to bait real victims. A 2017 report even showed this sleight-of-hand scam is part of an organized racket.
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The bust, which took place on February 15, was part of a wider crackdown on illegal gambling near London’s tourist landmarks. With scammers recognizing plainclothes cops, Watson got creative:
“I had Batman and Robin costumes handy,” he laughed. “Time to think outside the box!”
And it paid off. The superhero duo successfully arrested two suspects and seized their setup. Both men were convicted shortly after.
So next time you’re snapping selfies by Big Ben, beware of street games—and keep an eye out for Batman. He just might be working undercover.
