A thief responsible for stealing over a million pesos from a Cuban couple, including cash and personal belongings, has been arrested and brought to justice in Havana. This incident unfolded in the Micro 10 neighborhood of Alamar, located in East Havana, when a couple from Mayabeque arranged to meet with the alleged criminal, according to a report by Cuban Television. The report did not clarify the purpose of this meeting.
However, what was supposed to be a meeting turned into a violent robbery, during which the thief brandished a knife and initially managed to flee with the stolen items. "I was lured to a building in Alamar through WhatsApp, and that's where I was robbed," stated one of the victims. The other victim, who, like the first, remained unnamed, mentioned that his partner was able to fend off the knife attack using a helmet he had at hand. "The knife didn't penetrate any organs; it was all superficial, but it left a mark," he recounted.
An official from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) credited the capture of the alleged thief to the assistance of the local community. Although not explicitly stated, the suspect could face a prison sentence of up to 30 years. "Particularly since it's reported that a weapon was used—an instrument suitable for aggression—and injuries were inflicted on the victim... this is why the penalty framework is more severe in this case," explained Maikel Santana Cabrera, the president of the Fourth Chamber of the Provincial People's Court of Havana.
A Pattern of Crime and Official Narratives
This official account is part of a broader wave of crimes in Cuba, most of which remain unresolved by the police. Nevertheless, while remaining silent on the majority, the state-run media highlights cases where they can paint a favorable picture of the National Revolutionary Police, which does not enjoy a good reputation among Cubans. A similar narrative was presented in early September when a supposed criminal gang, composed of young individuals from the Cumanayagua municipality in Cienfuegos, was allegedly dismantled.
In the following days, the media spotlighted another case involving a robbery in the Peñas Altas neighborhood of Matanzas, using it to portray law enforcement in a positive light.