This may be one of the most brilliant pranks in law enforcement history

In 1985, U.S. Marshals in Washington, D.C., were facing an overwhelming task: tracking down thousands of fugitives. Arresting them one by one simply wasn’t realistic.

So instead of chasing criminals, they flipped the strategy and invited them in.

Letters were mailed to the last known addresses of about 3,000 wanted fugitives, claiming they had won two free tickets to Super Bowl XIX. The matchup was the Redskins versus the Dolphins, and tickets were nearly impossible to find.

On the day of the supposed giveaway, more than 100 fugitives arrived at the Washington Convention Center.

They entered what looked like a celebration, complete with balloons, music, and complimentary food. The event staff were actually undercover U.S. Marshals dressed in tuxedos. The cheerleaders were female police officers who mingled with the guests and subtly checked them for weapons.

After showing their driver’s licenses, each “winner” was directed to a waiting area. Once the room was full, the host stepped on stage and announced, “Surprise, you’re all under arrest!”

The doors were locked, tactical teams rushed in, and 101 fugitives were taken into custody in a single morning.