{"id":757,"date":"2026-08-04T15:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/2026\/08\/04\/man-35-sparks-huge-police-response-by-wearing-fake-gun-and-bulletproof-vest-to-his-office-costume-party\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T15:18:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:18:55","slug":"man-35-sparks-huge-police-response-by-wearing-fake-gun-and-bulletproof-vest-to-his-office-costume-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/2026\/08\/04\/man-35-sparks-huge-police-response-by-wearing-fake-gun-and-bulletproof-vest-to-his-office-costume-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Man, 35, Sparks Huge Police Response by Wearing Fake Gun and Bulletproof Vest to His Office Costume Party"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jacopo Mastrocinque was arrested in Sydney, Australia on Monday, Aug. 3<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/T2rSurQ7WPsEhbfMC1GWD15YCjI=\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)\/new-south-wales-police-officers-080426-1-debe5cb6bff04942bcbfd3cc18545ac8.jpg\" alt=\"A stock photo of New South Wales police officersCredit: Getty\" title=\"A group of officers of the New South Wales Police Force standing\" \/><figcaption><i>A stock photo of New South Wales police officers<br \/>Credit: Getty<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Jacopo Mastrocinque, 35, was arrested in Sydney, Australia on Monday, Aug. 3 after wearing a fake gun and bulletproof vest to a costume party, according to local reports<\/li>\n<li>Police responded to the scene after locals reported the man after spotting him near within the Entertainment Precinct at Moore Park, officials said in a release<\/li>\n<li>Mastrocinque claimed the outfit was for a \u201cheroes and villains\u201d party, per 7News<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A man was arrested for wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a fake gun while reportedly attending a costume party in Sydney, Australia.<\/p>\n<p>At around 4:45 p.m. local time on Monday, Aug. 3, the Surry Hills Police responded to reports of \u201ca man carrying a firearm within the Entertainment Precinct\u201d in the Sydney suburb of Moore Park, the New South Wales (NSW) Police said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.police.nsw.gov.au\/news\/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdS9tZWRpYS8xMjY3NTYuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">a release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo men have been arrested after a police operation in Moore Park this afternoon,\u201d police stated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn arrival, officers located two men, one of which allegedly wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a firearm. The two men, aged 39 and 35, were arrested and a replica firearm, a vest, and a badge were seized,\u201d officials added, per the release.<\/p>\n<p>The man wearing the items was identified as 35-year-old pizza shop owner Jacopo Mastrocinque, per <a href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/chef-charged-over-entertainment-quarter-fake-gun-chaos-claims-he-was-dressed-as-hero-for-costume-party-c-22672306\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">7News<\/a> and the <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-08-04\/man-was-wearing-costume-amid-fake-gun-moore-park-sydney\/106994414\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/9uD_8OJ946dg8li0G1WJY0f_kis=\/fit-in\/1280x960\/NSW-police-car-083125-399a53a6b3ba4c1b953b7bc29ed11480.jpg\" alt=\"A stock photo of a police vehicle in Sydney, AustraliaCredit: Getty\" title=\"Close up of a Police vehicle, Sydney, Australia\" \/><figcaption><i>A stock photo of a police vehicle in Sydney, Australia<br \/>Credit: Getty<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Concerned locals spotted Mastrocinque wearing what appeared to be a black bulletproof vest with an American flag on the chest and a fake gun attached to it, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2naGYvFVzhM\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">9News<\/a>, which shared footage of the man in the outfit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe saw a gun on his chest, but we were like, \u2018Is he wearing a costume? Is it real?\u2019 It looked like a pistol,\u201d one witness told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nine.com.au\/australia-news\/nsw\/sydney-entertainment-quarter-moore-park-arrests-fake-gun-20260803-p60l3a.html\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">the outlet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-true-crime-newsletter-sign-up-8692775\">PEOPLE\u2019s free True Crime newsletter<\/a> for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.<\/p>\n<p>Footage obtained by 9News showed swarms of police surrounding Mastrocinque, pointing guns at him outside a restaurant in the Entertainment Precinct while an officer screamed at him to \u201cGet down!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mastrocinque was later seen in handcuffs being escorted away by two police officers before being put into a police van, in another <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1565766021739798?locale=en_GB\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">video<\/a> shared by the NSW Police on Facebook.<\/p>\n<p>The incident took place just miles away from <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/bondi-beach-hanukkah-celebrations-shooting-suspect-charged-murder-11869187\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">the December 2025 terror attack at Bondi Beach<\/a>, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people.<\/p>\n<p>Mastrocinque appeared at Bail Division Court on Tuesday, Aug. 4. His lawyer explained that he was in costume for a dress-up party with colleagues at a bowling alley in the precinct. He\u2019d allegedly told police it was a \u201cheroes and villains\u201d party, and that he was \u201cdressed like a hero,\u201d per 7News.<\/p>\n<p>Mastrocinque was charged with offensive behavior and possessing an unregistered, unauthorized pistol in a public place, the outlet stated.<\/p>\n<p>He was granted bail after evidence was found of other people wearing costumes at the party, per the ABC.<\/p>\n<p>The judge noted that Mastrocinque didn\u2019t attempt to leave the scene or \u201cdo anything stupid\u201d during his arrest, adding that he didn\u2019t have a criminal history, according to 7News. His bail conditions include that he\u2019s not allowed to enter the Entertainment Quarter, the outlet stated. Mastrocinque is set to appear in court on Aug. 18.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/r8fKCE8g5y8HzsexQC0hq-gyzxs=\/fit-in\/1280x960\/moore-park-entertainment-center-080426-1-4970a947e7474b829c0516b9327b204a.jpg\" alt=\"A stock photo of the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park in Sydney, AustraliaCredit: Alamy\" title=\"Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park in SYdney, Australia\" \/><figcaption><i>A stock photo of the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park in Sydney, Australia<br \/>Credit: Alamy<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The 39-year-old suspect, who hasn\u2019t been named, was also charged over the incident and granted conditional bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 20, per the ABC.<\/p>\n<p>The NSW Police said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, \u201cThere are no further updates from the NSW Police \u2013 the matter is now before the Court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>PEOPLE has reached out to the Bail Division Court for additional information, but didn\u2019t immediately hear back.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jacopo Mastrocinque was arrested in Sydney, Australia on Monday, Aug. 3 A stock photo of New South Wales police officersCredit: Getty NEED TO KNOW Jacopo Mastrocinque, 35, was arrested in Sydney, Australia on Monday, Aug. 3 after wearing a fake gun and bulletproof vest to a costume party, according to local reports Police responded to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everything-else"],"wpmagazine_modules_lite_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":"","cvmm-medium":"","cvmm-medium-plus":"","cvmm-portrait":"","cvmm-medium-square":"","cvmm-large":"","cvmm-small":"","full":""},"categories_names":{"1":{"name":"Everything Else","link":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/category\/everything-else\/"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}