A young thief was apprehended on Friday by residents in the Reparto Barrio Técnico area along the Santiago de Cuba coastline after he stole a television. Reporter Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared on social media that the community managed to catch one of the two young criminals involved in the theft of the TV in Reparto Barrio Técnico.
The captured individual is an adolescent, sources informed Mayeta: "The teenager shown in the image, whose face is visible though his identity is unknown, was caught by locals who tied his hands and feet until the police arrived." The other accomplice managed to escape, but the stolen television was recovered. "Anyone who may recognize him can privately message me to help identify him and alert others," Mayeta urged in his post.
Many people commented on the post, noting that the thief appears to be just a "child" likely driven to steal out of necessity. "Don't worry, soon they won't be robbing anymore; they'll end up turning against each other. Can't you see the level of poverty in Cuba? Life is unbearable, everything is overpriced, and sellers face exorbitant fines, leading to violence and theft. Where will we end up with such despair? There's no gas, and many can't even afford bread, which costs 25 to 30 pesos. It's truly heartbreaking," lamented one user.
However, others insisted that being a teenager doesn't excuse the wrongdoing. "Theft is never justified but we, as parents, are partly to blame for this behavior because we've focused on providing financially for our children and neglected their education and communication. Everyday issues consume our time," one person commented.
This incident is not isolated, as Cubans increasingly resort to taking justice into their own hands due to perceived police inaction. In late March, another thief was caught by locals in the La Kaba neighborhood of Manzanillo, Granma, while attempting to rob a home. The community's intervention thwarted his efforts, leading to a tense situation. Some residents physically confronted the offender, but others managed to control the situation and held him under watch until the authorities arrived.
Critics have pointed out the police's ineffectiveness, emphasizing that law enforcement often arrives too late, leaving citizens to fend for themselves to ensure their safety.
Community Actions Against Crime in Cuba
Why did the locals in Santiago de Cuba take matters into their own hands?
Residents acted because they felt the police were ineffective and slow to respond, prompting them to safeguard their community themselves.
What happened to the other thief involved in the Santiago de Cuba incident?
The other young thief managed to escape, but the stolen television was successfully recovered by the community.
How did the community in Manzanillo handle a similar theft attempt?
In Manzanillo, the community intervened to stop the theft, managing a tense situation until police arrived, with some residents preventing violence from escalating.