In the neighborhood of Los Pinos, located in Santiago de Cuba, residents took matters into their own hands this Wednesday when they captured a man attempting theft. They restrained him while awaiting the arrival of the police for his arrest. Such scenes have unfortunately become a common occurrence across Cuba recently, with this particular incident being caught on video by bystanders and shared by the journalist Yosmany Mayeta.
In his post, Mayeta noted, "Residents of Santiago capture a thief and tie him up on Mariana Grajales Avenue in Los Pinos." The footage shows a crowd surrounding the suspect, who sits on the grass with his feet bound by rope. The man, carrying a backpack, gestures and responds to the questions posed by onlookers, though his words are inaudible.
The woman filming the video claims that the alleged thief, when caught, said he was merely searching for sugar. However, the post did not specify what the suspect attempted to steal, leaving details of the incident sparse.
Rising Crime Amid Economic Downturn
This incident, while seemingly minor, highlights a broader pattern of increasing theft and robbery in streets, homes, and businesses throughout the island, exacerbated by Cuba's worsening economic crisis. The prevalence of such crimes has led to a surge in lawlessness and violence, with many citizens feeling compelled to take justice into their own hands due to the perceived ineffectiveness of the police.
In Santiago de Cuba alone, there have been reports of thefts targeting patients and their families at the Southern Children’s Hospital. Alarmingly, two security guards were recently murdered in separate incidents while on duty, at an agricultural market and a private restaurant.
Another recent tragedy in the municipality of Jovellanos, located in Matanzas province, involved the murder of Jesús David Corcho Pérez, a 22-year-old who was killed last week by criminals seeking to steal his motorbike. These events underscore the dire security situation facing many communities in Cuba today.