What only a few weeks ago would have been brushed off by most people as a bizarre bit of performance art — or just someone having a laugh — is now suspicious enough to merit arrest. That’s why we’re asking everyone to call off their plans to dress up like Batman and skulk around their local Home Depot to see if anyone needs assistance.

Yesterday afternoon, police in New Jersey arrested a man for walking around the hardware superstore while dressed all in black, sporting a Batman mask, cape, elbow pads, and bullet-proof vest.

One witness tells The Express-Times that she saw the man pull into the parking lot around 3 p.m. on Tuesday and at first she thought he was just heading to the nearby air-rifle arena, until she noticed his mask.

“The only thing I could think of was what happened in the movie theater,” she recalls, referencing the tragic July 20 shootings inside a late-night screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, CO.

The man then walked into the store and reportedly began saying, “Anyone need some help? I’m here to save the day.”

Several shoppers decided that the police were the ones who should actually be called in to save the day. Officers arrived within minutes and arrested the 23-year-old, who now faces charges of disorderly conduct and possession of handcuffs.

So for all you closet superheroes out there — let’s just keep the cape and cowl in mothballs for a bit, okay?

The following is not actual footage of the incident, but it pretty dang funny:

Batman look-alike arrested outside Home Depot in Mansfield Township [Express-Times]

Thanks to Jen for the tip!

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