Amid a rising trend of electric scooter thefts in Las Tunas, authorities are placing some of the blame on the owners, citing negligence in security measures as a significant contributing factor to these crimes. An official from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) stated, "Most incidents occur due to the victims' own carelessness, often leaving keys in their scooters or parking them in unsecured locations," as reported by TunasVisión.
The official further explained that this negligence "provokes and results in crimes being committed during certain hours by various individuals within the population, making it complex to solve these cases, especially since these vehicles are taken to clandestine workshops where they are dismantled." This stance appears to shift part of the responsibility onto the victims of the thefts, who already suffer the trauma and financial loss resulting from these crimes.
Although investigations have led to the recovery of some electric scooters and the resolution of several cases, the authorities' statements imply that the solution relies more on citizen self-management than on increased state surveillance or preventive action. The proliferation of electric vehicles, in the face of fuel and spare parts shortages, has made them attractive targets for criminal networks, noted the official channel, which conveniently ignored the insecurity on the streets due to deteriorating pavement, poor public lighting, and power outages.
These criminal groups dismantle the scooters in clandestine workshops, transform them, and sell their parts in the informal market, complicating the recovery of stolen goods and highlighting the sophistication of the offenders, emphasized TunasVisión. While the MININT claims to be rigorously investigating these cases, focusing on "victim negligence" as the main cause of the thefts could distract from the necessity of implementing effective prevention strategies, enhancing surveillance, and dismantling criminal networks.
In a context of increasing insecurity, electric scooter thefts have become commonplace in Cuba, where recovering these vehicles remains a rare exception. Recently, four individuals assaulted and injured a young man to steal his scooter in Las Tunas.
The victim, Yordano Colón Ocampo, reported the attack on social media, sharing photos of the stolen scooter and the injury on his back caused by the assailants with a pipe. "Two nights ago, at the same Estadio Mella bus stop, I was coming back from town when four guys came out of nowhere, hit me with a pipe, and took my scooter. Thank God I made it out alive," Colón explained in a Facebook post in the "Venta de motorina en Las Tunas" group.
Understanding the Rise of Electric Scooter Thefts in Las Tunas
What is causing the increase in electric scooter thefts in Las Tunas?
Authorities attribute the rise in thefts to owner negligence, such as leaving keys in scooters or parking in insecure areas, combined with the attractiveness of electric vehicles due to fuel shortages.
How are stolen scooters being handled by criminal networks?
Stolen scooters are often taken to clandestine workshops for dismantling and transformation, with parts being sold on the informal market, complicating recovery efforts.
What measures are being taken to address these thefts?
While investigations have resolved some cases, there is a call for more effective prevention strategies, enhanced surveillance, and the dismantling of criminal networks, rather than just focusing on victim negligence.