Residents of La Rosita in San Miguel del Padrón apprehended an alleged criminal who tried to steal a cellphone in broad daylight. The incident took place on Tuesday, September 17, when three individuals assaulted a young man walking in the area. They struck him hard in the face in an attempt to snatch his mobile phone, according to the Facebook page "El cubano fiel," which is closely linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
The post reports that locals who witnessed the assault chased down the attackers. While two of the assailants managed to escape, the third was caught by the community. The captured individual was held until the neighbors contacted the police by dialing 106. Shortly thereafter, a patrol officer arrived on the scene to take the suspect into custody.
Authorities are currently investigating to locate the other two thieves.
Rising Incidents Amidst Economic Crisis
In recent years, as Cuba's economic, political, and social crisis has deepened, reports of cellphone thefts have become increasingly common. Last year, in Holguín, a young man was attacked with a machete by two men who stole his phone, leaving him unable to walk or take care of himself due to the severe injuries he sustained.