Havana Home Endures Two Burglary Attempts in Less Than a Month

A residence in the Marianao district of Havana has been targeted once more in a burglary attempt, marking the second incident in less than a month and the fifth in the past two months. This has prompted the affected family to offer a reward of 100,000 Cuban pesos for information leading to the identification of the perpetrators.

According to the Facebook page La Tijera, the latest attempt occurred around 3:00 a.m. when unidentified individuals tried to break into the home situated on Avenue 45, between 112 and 114, in Marianao. Despite having surveillance cameras, iron bars, and an alarm system, the criminals have repeatedly managed to bypass security, highlighting the worsening safety situation in Cuba.

“Not even with security cameras, bars, and alarms are people safe in Cuba anymore,” lamented La Tijera, accompanying their post with video captures showing a man dressed in overalls, gloves, a cap, a face mask, and rain boots attempting to enter the property.

In the comments section of the original post, Yunior Amaro, who identified himself as the homeowner, expressed gratitude for the case's exposure and reiterated that any information aiding in identifying the culprits would be rewarded. “You can contact me directly through my profile. I urge everyone to take precautions. I know this is happening all over Cuba, but this Marianao is really ‘hot’ with thefts and drugs. I don’t know where we’re headed,” he lamented.

Amaro also warned about the dangers families face from such criminals. “These thieves can cause problems for anyone. God give me the chance to catch them entering my home one day,” he wrote.

Less than a month ago, this same house was burglarized, with thieves stealing construction materials and a power generator, again during the early morning hours. The Facebook page La Tijera reported the incident, sharing surveillance footage capturing the thief in action atop the house in the dead of night.

On that occasion, Amaro confirmed the incident and reported that the thief also broke a door in a storage area and stole all the food. He urged anyone with information leading to the thief’s identification to contact him, offering a reward of 30,000 pesos.

Rising Crime in Cuba: A Troubling Trend

The security situation in Cuba continues to deteriorate, with an increasing wave of thefts and violence reported across various provinces. Recently, two men in Ciego de Ávila were apprehended after attempting to steal an electric motorcycle in broad daylight.

The attempted theft was thwarted by citizens who took matters into their own hands, detaining the criminals until police arrived. This incident sparked renewed debate on social media about the effectiveness of authorities and the societal issues fueling crime.

In February, another violent incident was reported in Majibacoa, Las Tunas, where two individuals brutally assaulted a guard to steal livestock from a cooperative. The robbery was facilitated by inadequate surveillance, illustrating how crime also extends into rural areas, driven by economic crisis and scarcity of essential resources.

In Santiago de Cuba, neighborhood responses have become part of the norm amidst perceived institutional neglect. Also in February, a man was caught by residents of the Pastorita neighborhood after snatching a phone from someone. Witnesses decided to take justice into their own hands, beating the alleged thief before handing him over to authorities, highlighting the public's desperation in the face of rising street crime.

The most alarming incident occurred last January when a 21-year-old was murdered in Centro Habana, allegedly for his cellphone. The victim was stabbed multiple times after being intercepted by two attackers, a case that provoked widespread public outrage. This event adds to other violent robberies happening across various regions, reflecting an increasingly deteriorating social context.