A woman detained an alleged thief at a fair in Santiago de Cuba and held him until a police officer took him into custody. The incident was shared in a video by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on his Facebook profile.
According to Mayeta Labrada, the event occurred at the agricultural fair located on the central Avenida Sueño. "A woman, with more courage than many men, captured a thief and abuser of women," he stated. "She caught a thief who took advantage of a female vendor with a child in her arms to steal all the money from her sales," he detailed.
In the video, the main character, who appears to be a vendor as well, angrily recounts that she saw a man stealing from the woman while she was bending down to pick up some bananas. "That's not right," she exclaimed in frustration, and immediately, without much thought, started walking in pursuit of the alleged thief. The footage then shows her holding a man by his shirt, shouting, "It was him!"
More people gathered, and they handed the man—who denied taking anything—to a police officer present at the scene. Amidst the commotion, the robbery victim arrived with her child and slapped the detained man.
Such scenes are becoming increasingly common in Cuba, where assaults and thefts are on the rise amid the worst socioeconomic crisis the country has ever experienced. In late April, also in Santiago de Cuba, locals apprehended an alleged thief operating in broad daylight in the San Pablo area of the Micro 9 neighborhood.
Mayeta Labrada shared a brief video showing the man squatting with his hands tied behind his back, arguing with one of his captors. "They caught him stealing, he changed his shirt so he wouldn't be recognized, but all the men in my neighborhood chased him until they caught him," a witness recounted. The suspect accused people of beating him. "Look, you’re not bleeding, you’re not swollen, they haven’t hit you," responded a local resident.
Days earlier, residents in Santiago apprehended and tied up a thief in the street, keeping him restrained until the police arrived. The man was tied to the gate of a house on Escario Street, between Pizarro and Hernán Cortés. Witnesses said he had stolen a cellphone from a woman near Plaza de Marte, although he repeatedly claimed he had done nothing.
When a police officer arrived, the crowd shouted for him not to release the thief. In mid-April, locals detained an alleged thief who snatched a cellphone from a teenager at his doorstep and held him immobilized until the police arrived. The incident took place on Calle 6, between D and E, in the Sueño neighborhood, a central area of the city. Footage captured showed the thief in a state of anxiety, apparently with a swollen eye.
Increased Incidents of Theft in Cuba
Amid the ongoing socioeconomic crisis, theft and assault incidents are becoming more frequent in Cuba. Here are some key questions and answers regarding the situation.
Why are theft incidents increasing in Cuba?
The rise in thefts is largely attributed to the severe socioeconomic crisis, which has led to increased poverty and desperation among the population.
What actions are citizens taking against thieves?
Citizens are increasingly taking matters into their own hands by detaining and restraining thieves until the police arrive. This reflects both a lack of trust in the authorities and a sense of community self-protection.
How are the authorities responding to the increase in theft?
The authorities are often criticized for their slow response and inadequate measures to prevent thefts. This has led to frustration among the citizens, who feel compelled to act on their own.