A man was apprehended by locals in the San Pedrito neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba after allegedly snatching a cell phone from a young girl. A video shared on social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta captures the moment when the suspect, with his hands tied, was cornered by several neighbors who were conversing with him.
Although the audio in the footage is unclear, it is evident that the man responded to the neighbors' questions. According to Mayeta, who cited witnesses' statements, the incident took place on Bacardí Street. The young girl, whose age remains undisclosed, was sitting with her grandparents at their home's entrance when the alleged thief grabbed the phone from her hands and fled.
"The alleged robber was eventually placed in a patrol car after neighbors repeatedly called the police. He was then transported to a local police station," concluded Mayeta Labrada. As of the publication of this report, no further details about the robbery have been released, nor has the identity of the suspected thief been disclosed.
In the comments section of the post, dozens of users questioned the effectiveness of the police response in such cases, which are becoming increasingly common across the country amid growing poverty and economic crisis. Some commenters claimed to know the alleged thief and expressed shock, stating they never would have imagined him capable of such an act.
Cuban Government Admits Failure in Crime Prevention Policies
In May, the Cuban government acknowledged that its "tough-on-crime" policies and efforts to combat criminal activity were not yielding results, and that criminal "phenomena" continued to proliferate in society. This admission was made during a meeting of the task force for the prevention and confrontation of crimes and illegalities, held at the Palace of the Revolution.
Chaired by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, the meeting aimed to analyze the outcomes of law enforcement efforts in April. According to the Presidency's website, the Prime Minister noted that there had been no progress in identifying and eliminating the causes and conditions that facilitate the proliferation of these criminal activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Santiago de Cuba
Given the recent incident in Santiago de Cuba and the broader context of rising crime in the country, here are some frequently asked questions that provide more insight into the situation.
What happened in the San Pedrito neighborhood?
A man was captured by neighbors after allegedly snatching a cell phone from a young girl. He was later handed over to the police.
How did the community respond to the incident?
Neighbors apprehended the suspect and called the police, who eventually took him into custody.
What is the Cuban government's stance on crime prevention?
The Cuban government has admitted that its current crime prevention policies are not effective and that criminal activities continue to increase.