A man fell from the fourth floor of a building in Velasco, located in the municipality of Gibara, after robbing an apartment in the building, according to the official profile Cazador-Cazado. Despite the dramatic fall, the thief survived and is currently hospitalized.
The individual, identified as José Alejandro Revés Fuente, lived in the building with a relative. On the night of the incident, he took advantage of an empty apartment on the third floor and climbed to the rooftop. According to the official source, once at the top of the building, he activated his “Spiderman mode” and used a section of a fishing net to descend the building's back side, entering and stealing money from the apartment.
However, during these “extreme maneuvers,” neighbors noticed that a robbery was occurring and decided to confront him. As the thief attempted to flee toward the upper part of the building, they followed him. Cazador-Cazado reports that, amidst the stress and nervousness, the thief ran out of hiding spots and fell from a height of four floors to the ground.
After the incident, he was immediately taken to the Velasco Polyclinic and later transferred to a hospital in the main municipality. Interestingly, the thief even wore gloves taped to his skin with adhesive to prevent them from slipping off. The official source did not provide detailed information on the alleged thief’s clinical condition but did mention that he fractured a rib, which affected his lung and required surgical intervention.
“Those who know him say he frequently went up to the roof to fly pigeons. Few could have imagined the drama that was about to unfold,” added the official source. However, according to testimonies from people familiar with the man, who is reportedly from the municipality of Sagua de Tánamo in Holguín, the individual has a history of theft with force in that municipality.
As of the publication of this note, there are no further details about the unusual robbery, which adds to other similar events in the country. Recently, the Cuban government acknowledged that its “tough-on-crime” policy and efforts to combat crime are not yielding results, and criminal activities are proliferating in society.
This was confirmed by authorities during a meeting of the working group for the prevention and confrontation of crimes and illegalities, held last Thursday in the halls of the Palace of the Revolution. Chaired by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, the meeting aimed to analyze the results of the “confrontation” in April. According to the Presidency’s website, the head of government indicated that “there is no progress in identifying and eliminating the causes and conditions that favor the proliferation of these phenomena.”
Questions and Answers about Crime in Cuba
This section provides answers to common questions regarding the current crime situation in Cuba and the government's efforts to address it, based on the recent incident and official statements.
What happened to the thief who fell from the fourth floor in Gibara?
The thief, identified as José Alejandro Revés Fuente, fell from the fourth floor of a building while attempting to flee after robbing an apartment. He survived the fall but sustained injuries, including a fractured rib that required surgical intervention.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to combat crime?
The Cuban government has implemented a "tough-on-crime" policy and has established a working group for the prevention and confrontation of crimes and illegalities. However, authorities have acknowledged that these measures are not yielding the desired results, as criminal activities continue to proliferate.
What are the challenges faced by the Cuban government in reducing crime?
According to official statements, the Cuban government is struggling to identify and eliminate the underlying causes and conditions that contribute to the proliferation of criminal activities. This has been highlighted as a significant challenge in their efforts to effectively reduce crime.