Last Saturday, a concerned internet user reached out for assistance in identifying a thief who took advantage of a street brawl in Havana to steal a cellphone from a residence, all captured by a security camera. Tania Vargas, the complainant, expressed her frustration in the Facebook group “Confituras en La Habana” and urged members to help identify the culprit.
“Please share this theft incident to find the shameless thief. He exploited a situation to enter the house and steal a cellphone,” Vargas wrote. She further detailed that the incident took place on Friday, December 27, around 11 a.m., in Centro Habana, specifically on Ánimas Street, between Industria and Consulado.
In an effort to track down the perpetrator, Vargas provided a contact number: 51977460, available for direct calls or WhatsApp messages, inviting anyone with information to come forward.
In the comments, Vargas clarified the reality of the situation: “My cousin lives with her mother, an elderly woman with mental health issues. After the phone disappeared, they reviewed the camera footage and identified this individual.” She also mentioned that the footage was obtained from a neighbor's surveillance camera, accessed after filing the report.
Some users speculated that the brawl might have been orchestrated as a distraction to facilitate the theft, suggesting potential collusion among those involved.
The escalating number of thefts, often with serious repercussions for the victims, highlights the worsening economic crisis in Cuba. In December, a thief was recorded by security cameras strolling with a stolen motorcycle and gas cylinder through the streets of the Sevillano neighborhood in the Diez de Octubre municipality of Havana.
“Wanted: thief from Sevillano, stole a bisimoto and gas cylinder. His name is Jorge Costa Fría. To the bargain hunters, be aware that the motorcycle is already flagged, and the case is with the DTI,” wrote Cristian Rasta in the Facebook group “all about electric motorcycles in Havana.”
Days before the end of 2024, a Cuban was involved in a brazen theft at the El Louvre hotel store in the heart of Matanzas city. The individual, identified as José Rafael Rodríguez Durán, was arrested, and the stolen clothing was recovered, as reported by the official source "Con todos la Victoria" on Facebook.
Around the same time, a pickpocket incident on a public bus in Havana ended with police intervention. According to the Facebook user "Dany por siempre apparel," a passenger had their cellphone and over 2,000 pesos stolen, although the victim claimed in the video that they lost 12,000.
Understanding the Rise in Theft in Cuba
What led to the theft during the street brawl in Havana?
The thief took advantage of the chaos created by a street fight to enter a home and steal a cellphone, all of which was caught on a security camera.
How are residents in Havana responding to rising theft incidents?
Residents are using social media platforms like Facebook to report thefts and seek community assistance in identifying culprits, as seen in Tania Vargas's case.
What does the increase in thefts indicate about the situation in Cuba?
The surge in thefts points to the deepening economic crisis in Cuba, which is pushing individuals to resort to crime as a means of survival.