“Batman” Strikes in Sri Lanka’s Skyline:
On the 26th floor of Sri Lanka’s iconic World Trade Centre (WTC), “Batman” wasn’t fighting crime — he was allegedly committing it to fuel a gambling addiction.
Khalid Riyal Muheideen, a 23-year-old Sudanese national, is accused of targeting four offices in Colombo’s high-rise, stealing laptops and mobile phones worth nearly £10,000. But this caped criminal left an unusual calling card: scrawling the word “Batman” on the walls of the ransacked offices before making his escape.
The World Trade Centre, one of Sri Lanka’s most recognizable landmarks, is home to multinational firms and local businesses. Surveillance footage captured a man dressed in a blue shirt, black shoes, cap, and blue mask sneaking through the building with a backpack, methodically swiping devices and stashing them in his bag. Using office keys found on keyboards, he reportedly gained access to multiple offices after entering the tower around 1 a.m. on January 17.
A Clue Fit for a Detective
Investigators analysed hours of CCTV footage, cross-referencing it with workers’ social media profiles. The peculiar “Batman” graffiti led them to a Facebook account loaded with Batman-themed posts, which ultimately pointed to Mr. Muheideen. Police apprehended him near a Colombo casino, recovering the stolen devices.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly confessed, explaining that he sold the stolen electronics at a discount to bankroll his gambling habits. He also revealed insider knowledge of the WTC layout, learned from his father, who once ran a fish export consultancy in the complex.
Memes and Mayhem
The bizarre case ignited a wave of memes on social media. One user, Amila Wimalaratne, shared an animated Batman image on X (formerly Twitter), quipping: “Batman was caught stealing a laptop from the WTC office. Tough times for millionaires too.”
A Fort Police Station officer in Colombo said: “The ‘Batman’ on the walls was the clue that cracked the case. We used advanced investigative techniques to track him down.”
Police confirmed that all stolen items had been recovered and noted that investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved. As for this “Dark Knight,” it seems his antics have come to an abrupt end — with no Bat-Signal to save him.
