UK Cosplayer Dressed as Batman Thwarts Handbag Theft
A man in a Batman costume apprehended a thief and recovered a stolen bag while on a night out in Norwich.
A cosplayer dressed as Batman apprehended a handbag thief and recovered the stolen property while out with friends in Norwich.
Sonni Mason, 25, was wearing his Batman costume during a night out for a friend's birthday on Saturday when he witnessed the theft. The incident occurred as Mason and his friends were queuing outside a bar on Queen Street.
Mason pursued the suspect on foot and alerted a police officer. He then scaled a wall outside the Cathedral to retrieve the bag, which had been snatched after the thief accused two women of stealing cigarettes from him.
Mason's pursuit was joined by his friends, who were also in costume as Mr. Fantastic, Poison Ivy, and Cyclops.
A video of the incident shared by Mason on TikTok has garnered over 300,000 views. Mason frequently shares videos of himself in various superhero costumes.
The stolen bag was returned to its owner with all contents intact. However, Norfolk Police stated that no arrests were made.
Mason described himself as an ordinary person who works in a local cafe. He told the Eastern Daily Press, "I'm a bog-standard guy, to be honest. I currently work at a cafe, but I'm a creative at the core. I love films and have four or five years of experience in that industry."
He added, "There's not a lot of good things going on in the world. At the time, being able to get someone's bag back, make sure she could go home safe and see someone happy again felt good. Everyone needs a little bit of that in them. A little bit of Batman. You have to be brave, bold and kind."
Mason expressed a desire to inspire others, stating, "I just hope more people will be inspired to do the same if they see someone being mugged or feeling uncomfortable on a night out."
A Norfolk Police spokesperson confirmed that officers were approached by a member of the public on Saturday, September 19, seeking assistance in locating a missing bag. "Following enquiries at the scene, the bag was located with all of its contents intact and subsequently returned to its owner," the spokesperson said.