Residents in the city of Las Tunas apprehended a man on Tuesday who had stolen a cellphone from a house and was found in possession of six other phones, which he allegedly also stole that day. In a Facebook post, user Rosy GE reported that the individual had just taken a mobile phone from her sister's home but was caught by local neighbors and taken to a police station.
"This criminal was just caught by the neighbors after stealing a cellphone from my sister's house on Marañón Street; he has already been taken to the police station," she said. Additionally, she claimed that the supposed thief "had six more phones in the bag he was carrying, which he must have stolen today."
Rosy GE expressed her "recognition to the two young men who followed and captured him."
Another woman, identified as María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez La O, shared the post and confirmed that the man had stolen her mother's mobile phone. "This was the same person who stole my mom's cellphone, but divine justice is so grand that anyone who steals will eventually be caught," she said. "We need brave young people like these in every neighborhood. He should face the full weight of the law. I stand firmly against crime."
Amid the deep economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing, there has been a notable increase in criminal activities, leaving the populace on edge due to the inefficiency and negligence of the authorities.
Recent Incidents of Vigilante Justice in Cuba
Recently, residents of Reparto Eléctrico in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality of Havana captured a man accused of snatching phones. They beat him and tied him to a post. Earlier this month, a courageous woman saw a man stealing from a vendor at an agricultural fair in Santiago de Cuba. She chased him down and detained him until a police officer arrived to arrest him.
In the José Martí neighborhood of Santa Clara in Villa Clara, the police caught a young man red-handed while he was stealing a bench from a park. According to authorities, he had already stolen five benches from the area.
A surveillance camera installed in a house in Havana captured the moment a thief entered the property and took a washing machine from the yard. The family published the footage, hoping to identify the criminal.
Understanding the Rise in Crime in Cuba
In light of the increasing crime rates in Cuba, here are some questions and answers to help understand the current situation.
Why has there been an increase in criminal activities in Cuba?
The rise in criminal activities can be attributed to the severe economic crisis in the country, leading to heightened desperation and opportunistic crimes.
How are residents responding to the increase in crime?
Residents are increasingly taking matters into their own hands, capturing and detaining criminals themselves due to perceived inefficiency and negligence by the authorities.
What are the authorities doing to combat the rise in crime?
While there are isolated instances of police intervention, the general perception is that the authorities are not doing enough to effectively address the surge in crime.