Man Dressed As The Joker Arrested For Allegedly Trying To Steal Batman Movie Art

Police in the town of Three Rivers, Michigan think they've caught a joker in the act of committing a crime on a dark night.

It happened Monday when cops in the city near the Indiana border were called to a local movie theatre. Officials there told them someone was trying to steal posters and other items related to the new Batman movie - and that the culprit was clad in make-up to make him appear like the Joker, the character played in the film by the late Heath Ledger.

Incredulous cops arrived to find a man with white make-up on his face, a green wig on his head and wearing a purple suit, being restrained by employees who were holding him for police.

A 20-year-old named Spencer Taylor (top left, shown in and out of his alleged disguise in a police photo) is being held for larceny and malicious destruction of property. He'll be in court next week. 

"The Dark Knight," the latest and some say the best of the Batman films, is well on its way to becoming the most successful motion picture of all time at the box office. It has already attracted a rabid fan base and collectors may be expecting to reap a small fortune from anything related to it - provided they come by it all honestly.