Brazilian pranksters develop ingenious way to catch thieves

It could be the revenge prank to end them all.

A group of Brazilian tricksters has taken to combating an all-too-common crime, but with humorous effect.

Hidden camera video, uploaded to Brazilian YouTube channel Os Primitivos (The Primitives), shows would-be thieves being lured to seemingly easy bait - untethered bicycles left resting on trees.

What they don’t know is that the bikes have been tied to the trees by an inconspicuous rope attached to the back wheel.

Before they can get too far, the thieves are sent flying over the handrails and face planting into the ground.

Only then to be chased off by the laughing hero prankster.

The video uploaded to YouTube on October 21 has already amassed more than one million views.