Residents in Havana captured and restrained a man accused of snatching phones, beating him before tying him to a post. The incident took place in the Reparto Eléctrico neighborhood, located in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality, according to crime reporter Niover Licea, known as "Nio reporting a crime."
Niover shared a video of the event on his Instagram account, urging people to spread it to help identify the suspect. The footage shows the thief, a young man, lying on the ground with his hands tied behind him to an electricity post and his bare feet also bound. The young man appears semi-conscious, with his eyes closed and visible signs of being beaten, including blood on his face and swollen lips and cheeks.
Surrounding him, people can be heard commenting and insulting him, calling him shameless. "Let's set the post on fire and him too," one man suggests. "No, we can't, the power will go out," another responds.
In the comment section, an elderly woman justified the crowd's actions, claiming the thief had snatched a phone from a little girl. "Good for the community because if you wait for the Police, they never come. They are never available for these incidents. Just shout 'Patria y Vida' and hundreds show up," another woman added.
However, some internet users criticized the mob for taking justice into their own hands. "Even if he snatches phones, you shouldn't do that! You can't take individual vengeance, people! Tie him up, but don't draw blood! He's a human being!" emphasized one user.
The video does not reveal what ultimately happened to the thief, but it is presumed that his irate captors called the police.
Questions About the Incident in Havana
This section provides answers to some of the most common questions people might have about the incident involving the thief tied to a post in Havana.
Why did the residents take matters into their own hands?
Residents felt frustrated with the police's delayed response times and decided to capture and punish the thief themselves.
What was the thief accused of?
The young man was accused of snatching phones, and one elderly woman claimed he took a phone from a little girl.
What does the video show?
The video shows the thief lying on the ground with his hands tied behind him to an electricity post and his bare feet also bound. He appears semi-conscious and visibly beaten.
How did people react to the incident?
Reactions were mixed. Some justified the crowd's actions due to frustration with the police, while others criticized the mob for taking justice into their own hands and inflicting physical harm.