Charges over Youtube 'kidnapping'

Five men who allegedly staged a fake kidnapping have been charged after a member of the public reported seeing a handcuffed, naked man escape from the boot of a car in Leederville.

The naked man was reportedly seen being chased by another man as he ran into bushland on Vincent Street, near the Mitchell Freeway overpass, about 1.20pm on September 18.

Police allege the incident was a hoax planned by the five men, who recorded the fake kidnapping and uploaded edited footage of the incident onto YouTube.

A 25-year-old Balcatta man, a 23-year-old Shenton Park man, a 22-year-old West Leederville man, a 21-year-old Wembley man and a 21-year-old Carine man have been charged with creating a false belief over the incident.