A thief was caught red-handed while attempting to rob a snack bar in the city of Sagua La Grande, located in Villa Clara. The suspect was apprehended by local residents and police officers.
A video posted on the Facebook page Fuerza del Pueblo, associated with the Ministry of the Interior, captures the moment when citizens and police officers discover the young man, identified as Daniel Portales, inside the establishment situated on Luis Mesa Street between Calixto García and Carmen Rivalta. He had broken in with the intent to steal.
The short video, which has had its original audio replaced with action movie music, shows in 29 seconds how the thief was arrested while attempting to commit the robbery. Likely alerted by some noise, neighbors must have called the police. In the footage, a man opens the gate and door of the establishment, and another man—identified in the comments as the owner—enters, forcibly removes the young man, and throws him violently to the pavement while two police officers merely watch.
Subsequently, one of the officers lifts him up, and after a cut in the video, he is seen being led handcuffed to a police vehicle. The report, which showers praise on the members of the MININT, provides no details about the items the suspect intended to steal.
Several commenters criticized the PNR officers for allowing civilians to intervene instead of fulfilling their duty as authorities during the arrest. The Facebook page attempted to justify the police actions by claiming that the man who pulled the thief out was the owner of the establishment, but this explanation was met with disagreement.
"Please... The PNR has a legal obligation to the citizens, especially when it comes to issues of protection and security. If you are now trying to ignore that obligation, you are very misguided. It is the PNR's responsibility to protect the people and act accordingly. So let's get the facts straight... the officers were timid, and their participation was secondary," stated one man.
"Well, if the citizen is the owner, he showed more courage than the police. The strength lies with the people," said one woman, while a young woman was more blunt: "The police are scared, you can see it in the video."
Others opined that the video was edited and did not show the full incident. While some applauded the authorities' actions against crime, others urged for the same determination and firmness to be applied to corrupt officials.
"I say they should go after the corrupt officials, many of whom are resigning but have made their fortunes by stealing from the people. They get comfortable and then resign; they're easy to catch. Let's see if their salaries match what they have. Although, if they go after the officials, Cuba would end up without a governing body," commented a young man.
Cuba is experiencing a wave of criminal activity, marked by an increase in thefts and assaults and a rising level of violence. However, the government continues to downplay the situation, attributing a false perception of increased crime to social media.
Questions About the Recent Robbery in Villa Clara
Given the recent incident in Villa Clara, several questions have arisen regarding the events and the actions of the authorities. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Who was caught attempting to rob the snack bar in Sagua La Grande?
The thief was identified as Daniel Portales.
How did the authorities and citizens respond to the robbery?
Local residents and police officers apprehended the thief. The owner of the establishment forcibly removed the thief, while two police officers watched. Eventually, the thief was handcuffed and taken to a police vehicle.
What criticism did the PNR face regarding their actions?
The PNR faced criticism for allowing civilians to intervene in the arrest instead of taking full responsibility. Commenters argued that the police should have taken a more active role in ensuring security and protection.
What is the current crime situation in Cuba?
Cuba is currently experiencing a wave of criminal activity, including an increase in thefts and assaults, as well as a rising level of violence. The government, however, tends to downplay these incidents.