Throwback Thursday: When Paterson Cops Dressed as Hippies and Beatniks to Nab Purse Snatchers and Muggers

Throwback Thursday: When Paterson Cops Dressed as Hippies and Beatniks to Nab Purse Snatchers and Muggers

PATERSON, NJ – The Paterson Police Department recently highlighted an innovative strategy from 1970 aimed at combating muggings and other street crimes in the city. During that era, the department deployed an Anti-Mugging Squad, wherein officers adopted unconventional disguises, including dressing as hippies and elderly women. This creative approach was designed to catch criminals like purse-snatchers and vandals red-handed.

Photos provided by Paterson Police Dept./Facebook

Throwback Thursday: When Paterson Cops Dressed as Hippies and Beatniks to Nab Purse Snatchers and Muggers