Following reports from residents about a string of thefts in a neighborhood in La Lisa, Havana, police apprehended two suspected thieves as they attempted to flee on a public transportation bus. The dramatic moments of their capture were recorded on video and shared on Facebook by a user identified as NanDoo ObDc.
In the San Agustín area of La Lisa, locals reported that the individuals had been committing continuous thefts, which included stealing a gas canister, cell phones, and a sack of chickens, according to the post. The footage shows police officers stopping an articulated bus to detain the alleged criminals.
Community Outrage and Accusations
In a second video, officers can be seen loading the suspects into a police patrol car, along with a sack presumed to contain some of the stolen items. Some residents claimed the men prowled the neighborhood at night, committing multiple burglaries. One of the victims confronted the suspects, accusing them of stealing her phone, exclaiming, "It was you and that one," as she pointed them out.
Another woman urged her to go to the police station to file an official report. Shortly thereafter, the patrol car took the alleged thieves away. "We hope the authorities do their job," remarked NanDoo ObDc in his post.
Rising Crime Rates Challenge Official Claims
Crime and insecurity have surged to unprecedented levels in Cuba in recent years, despite official claims that crime rates have decreased—a perception not shared by the public. In recent statements to the British broadcaster BBC, Maricela Sosa Ravelo, the vice president of Cuba's Supreme Court, argued that social media amplifies the problem and blamed defamatory campaigns from the United States.
Nevertheless, the daily reality in Cuba contradicts the government’s narrative, with frequent reports of robberies, assaults, and murders appearing on social media. Recently, three men were arrested for stealing rationed goods from a store in the Popular Council of Rampa, Havana.
Additionally, victims of a severe traffic accident last week on the overpasses of Avenida del Puerto in Old Havana—where one person died—reported that some of their belongings were also stolen during the incident.