From slapdash mustaches to Hollywood-level prosthetics, criminals have spent the last century proving one thing: some people will try anything to avoid being recognized. Between the 1920s and 1980s, police files and newspaper archives captured a parade of disguises so bizarre, they almost sound fictional. Here are 15 wild disguises criminals actually tried to pull off.
1. The Newspaper-Mask Bandit (1923)
In Chicago, a small-time robber fashioned an entire face covering out of folded newspaper pages. The problem? Ink smudged, it fell apart in the rain, and he couldn’t see. He tripped over a curb while running from the police.
2. The Bootlegger with a Fake Beard Made of Twine (1931)
During Prohibition, a liquor smuggler tried blending in by tying pieces of brown twine to his chin to simulate a “rugged beard.” Officers described it as “a chin curtain made of mop strings.”
3. The “Old Lady” Bank Robber (1947)
A young man robbed two banks wearing a floral housecoat, orthopedic shoes, and a lace church hat. His downfall? He forgot to disguise his voice, which witnesses described as “distinctly deep and clearly male.”
4. The Painted-On Eyebrows Getaway Driver (1938)
A getaway driver shaved his eyebrows completely off, then painted new ones with shoe polish. Police caught him easily because the polish melted under the summer sun, leaving streaks down his cheeks.
5. The Gentleman Ghost with Flour (1920s)
One burglar in New York covered himself in baking flour so he would appear “spectral” and supposedly frighten homeowners. Instead, he left a trail of powdery footprints leading police straight to him.
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6. The Bandit Who Tried to Look Like a Teenager (1952)
A 38-year-old man put braces in his mouth, slicked his hair with pomade, and wore a high-school jacket to disguise himself as a 16-year-old. Witnesses said he looked more like “a tired uncle at a school dance.”
7. The Fake Priest with a Crooked Collar (1960)
After a jewelry store heist, a thief attempted to escape dressed as a priest, but he put the clerical collar on backwards. Police noted that “no actual clergy member would have worn it that way,” leading to his quick arrest.
8. The Trench Coat Full of Cats (1956)
Trying to appear as a harmless “cat rescuer,” a burglar stuffed several cats inside a trench coat while sneaking around a warehouse. The meowing gave him away instantly.
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9. The Cowboy Bandit with a Plastic Horse (1949)
This wannabe outlaw tried to create a Wild West persona by riding a children’s plastic toy horse to the scene of a crime. It buckled under his weight, and he abandoned it, complete with his fingerprints.
10. The “Blind Man” Jewel Thief with Dark Glasses and a Cane (1958)
Believing a fake disability would make him invisible to suspicion, a thief carried a cane and wore thick blackout glasses. He was caught when he instinctively sidestepped a puddle, despite supposedly being blind.
11. The Wig-and-Trenchcoat Spy (Cold War Era)
During the 1960s, an amateur spy in the U.S. attempted to emulate movie espionage by wearing a blonde wig, sunglasses at night, and a trench coat. Neighbors reported him immediately because he paced for hours practicing “spy moves.”
12. The Burglar with the Upside-Down Fake Mustache (1935)
A thief glued a fake mustache above his eyebrows, believing officers were “too detail-oriented” and wouldn’t expect it. They actually wrote in the report that they arrested him because his disguise was “too confusing to ignore.”
13. The Jogger Impersonator (1974)
To blend into a wealthy neighborhood, a burglar dressed like a morning jogger…tracksuit, sweatbands, everything. But he wore two expensive watches on the same wrist (loot from a break-in), which caught an officer’s eye.
14. The Delivery Man Who Forgot the Package (1982)
Attempting to pose as a delivery worker, a thief wore a uniform from a real company, but carried no box, clipboard, or ID. Residents told police he looked “like a delivery man waiting for someone else to deliver his package.”
15. The Man Who Disguised Himself as a Golf Caddy (1966)
To access a private clubhouse, a suspect dressed in caddy whites and carried a bag of mismatched, rusted clubs. Real golfers immediately sensed something was off. No caddy carried gear that was outdated.
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From melted makeup to oversized masks, most of these schemes shared the same flaws: poor planning, uncomfortable materials, and wildly unrealistic expectations. The results? Instant giveaways and some of the most entertaining police reports of the 20th century. If you loved this content, check out School Yearbooks of People Who Later Changed the World, or 29 Quirky Yearbook Photos That Help Capture 1975.
