Mario and Luigi: wanted criminals?

That's how things appeared early on November the 1st, as two men donning Halloween costumes of the super plumbing pair assaulted a cabbie in Staten Island. They at first reached into his pocket, prompting him to stop at a gas station and asking them to pay and leave. Instead, cops say they beat him up and stole his money before fleeing. A third man donning a tux is said to have acted as a lookout.

A surveillance tape from New York Daily News shows the crime as it happened. Fortunately, it doesn't sound as though the cabbie was badly injured. Now we can just hope that news outlets don't try to say that Super Mario Bros. is a corrupting influence on society.

NY Daily News adds "Anyone who recognizes the brothers' criminal lookalikes or their cohorts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or log onto www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text 274637 then enter TIP577."