Brazilian city enlists the help of real-life Batman to tackle crime

Is your city being overrun by criminals? Are local residents too afraid to leave their homes? Is drug trafficking and gang crime on the rise? It sounds like you need some kind of superhero. If only Batman existed…oh wait…he does. In fact, the caped crusader has just been hiding in a city in Brazil all this time.

The Huffington Post reports that officials in Taubaté, Brazil have hired a former soldier to patrol the streets of the most crime-ridden neighbourhoods in the city. The best thing? He does it while dressed up as Batman. Oh yes.

According to reports, things have gotten so bad in the city that police hope the Dark Knight can “help to combat crimes such as murder and drug trafficking which have increased in Taubaté.”

Unfortunately we can’t confirm if the Brazilian Batman will have the same cool crime-fighting tools and vehicles at his disposal as Bruce Wayne, although we really wish we could. How amazing would it be if they gave him a bat mobile? Answer: really freakin’ amazing.

However Brazilian Batman, whose not-so-secret identity is André Luiz Pinheiro, remains unsure as to how his role will work exactly.

“I am eager to know how we can work together. If I can help bring the story to even one child, that would be very nice,” he said.

But will Brazilian Batman be able to fight off drug lords and gang bosses like the real Batman? And, more importantly, will he be able to deal with the lawyers from DC Comics who will most likely be in touch over the obvious copyright infringement?

According to reports, Pinherio’s duties are more likely to be less hands-on and act more as a way to open up communication between the community and the real police.

So if you were expecting bat-signals to be flying all around the place, unfortunately you will be disappointed.

Still though, Batman patrolling the streets. It’s kind of awesome...