Scooby Doo Characters Stop Phone Thieves at Carnival Event

A squad of undercover police officers in Brazil, donning costumes of the beloved Scooby-Doo gang, made headlines recently for their innovative approach to crime prevention at the local carnival. This unique initiative not only reflects creativity in law enforcement but also highlights the efforts to tackle crime during one of Brazil’s most festive seasons.

Scooby-Doo Characters Take on Phone Thieves at Brazilian Carnival

The iconic characters from the Scooby-Doo franchise—Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby—are usually known for their mystery-solving adventures in the Mystery Machine. However, during Brazil’s carnival season, they took on a new role as heroes catching criminals.

Dressed As Scooby Doo Characters, Brazilian Undercover Cops Arrest Cellphone Thieves At Carnival https://t.co/KqlQrBT7t7 pic.twitter.com/UqQnaBENYK

— NDTV (@ndtv) February 18, 2026

This year, as part of their ‘Operation Tracking’ initiative, the São Paulo police deployed a team dressed as Scooby-Doo characters along with a guard from Squid Game to counteract rampant phone theft during the carnival festivities. Their efforts paid off when they apprehended a trio suspected of stealing mobile phones.

According to a report by the New York Post, one man and two women were arrested, with one of the women found in possession of eight stolen cellphones. This strategic operation not only led to arrests but also allowed for the swift return of stolen items to their rightful owners.

The use of costumes is not without precedent; earlier in the month, police in São Paulo had also dressed as Ghostbusters to apprehend a different woman in possession of 12 phones. Meanwhile, officers in Rio de Janeiro took on the personas of characters from Money Heist and even Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th to disrupt criminal activities in their surroundings.

Conclusion

While the approach may seem unconventional, the creative use of popular culture references like Scooby-Doo in law enforcement serves to engage the community actively. It not only provides an interesting spectacle but also highlights the ongoing battle against crime within festive settings. For fans of the franchise, there’s a wealth of related content available, ranging from Scooby-Doo Lego sets to updates on the latest adventures of Velma and discussions on James Gunn’s R-rated cut of the Scooby-Doo movies.