What made Brazilian cops dress as Power Rangers at carnival? The surprising behind-the-scenes story!

During Sao Paulo's famous Carnival, a group of Brazilian police officers caught everyone's attention by arresting a suspected thief– while dressed as Power Rangers. The unusual incident happened near Ibirapuera Park, where people were celebrating in colourful costumes. In the middle of the fun, the officers, dressed as superheroes, took down the suspect in a creative and effective way.
A carnival caper with a heroic twist
As per media reports, the arrest took place right in the middle of the festival, as people danced and celebrated in their vibrant costumes. The undercover officers, dressed in red, blue, yellow, and green, blended in perfectly with the crowd. The dramatic moment came when they pinned the suspect to the ground, and the excited bystanders started chanting “Power Rangers! Power Rangers!” while recording the scene on their phones.
According to online media sources, the arrest quickly went viral on social media, surprising many. Sao Paulo's Governor, Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas, shared the news on X, jokingly comparing it to the 90s superhero show: “It’s morphin’ time! The Power Rangers of our Civil Police are putting on another show this carnival! Always vigilant, our heroes noticed the suspicious behaviour of a duo within the crowd and, with an approach no ranger could fault, they arrested the criminal and recovered seven cell phones in one go.”
Creative policing at its best

As per media reports, in videos shared by the governor, the officers were seen patrolling the carnival in full-body lycra suits, just like the Power Rangers. The black Power Ranger held up the seven stolen phones for the camera, showing that their fun and creative approach to policing had worked.
As per a report presented by the Hindustan Times, the officers were there for a reason. Authorities know that big events like Carnival attract criminals, especially gangs that steal from festival-goers. To fight this, creative strategies like this have been used, helping to reduce crime during the celebrations.
International influence of unconventional policing
As per the Hindustan Times report, Brazil isn’t the only place using creative policing. In other parts of the world, officers have also worn disguises to catch criminals. In Peru, on Valentine’s Day, an officer dressed as a capybara led a drug raid. The operation was a success, with police seizing 1,700 packages of cocaine and marijuana. This was part of a larger effort to use disguises to surprise criminals.
Watch the video here:

As per reports, Colonel Pedro Rojas, leader of the anti-drug unit, said, “On this occasion, Valentine’s Day, lover’s day, we sought to camouflage ourselves with the character of the capybara.” This wasn’t the first time Peru’s police used costumes. They have also dressed as Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, and Black Widow in other operations, showing that creativity helps fight crime.
Taking crime-fighting to the next level

In Sao Paulo, the Power Rangers put on an unforgettable show during Carnival. But more than just entertainment, their creative approach helped fight crime. Their colourful costumes caught the crowd’s attention and helped them arrest a thief, proving that crime doesn’t stand a chance– even in unexpected places.
This trend of creative policing is growing worldwide. Whether dressed as superheroes or animals, these officers show that fighting crime doesn’t always have to be serious– sometimes, a little creativity makes all the difference.