In Cuba, a fresh incident highlighting the insecurity of interprovincial transportation has caused widespread concern. A group of thieves recently executed a luggage theft on a state-run Transtur bus traveling from the eastern part of the island to Havana. The robbery took place on Saturday, August 16, at approximately 10:30 PM, as the bus briefly stopped at a traffic light on the busy Vía Blanca.
Kenny Fernández Delgado, a Facebook user, shared that several individuals seized the opportunity during those brief moments to open the luggage compartment, grab multiple suitcases, and flee, all while passengers watched in shock and yelled in dismay. Initially, Fernández questioned how the thieves managed to open the bus’s compartment so quickly. However, a few days later, he clarified that the compartments had been locked and that the perpetrators used a crowbar to force them open, showcasing their speed and preparedness.
“All of this happened in the few seconds the traffic light was red,” Fernández updated in a Facebook post this week. The affected passengers chose not to report the incident immediately to avoid delaying their journey, a decision reflecting the vulnerability travelers face in such situations and the lack of security guarantees on interprovincial routes.
Recurring Theft Incidents on Interprovincial Buses
This is not an isolated incident. Back in March, three individuals were caught attempting a peculiar theft on a bus traveling from Havana to Camagüey. While two posed as passengers, a third hid inside an empty suitcase in the luggage compartment, planning to discreetly steal valuables from other travelers. The driver’s quick response thwarted their plan, though not before the would-be thieves received a beating from enraged passengers.
Similarly, in November 2024, a similar tactic was reported on a trip from Havana to Nuevitas, where a group of thieves emptied suitcases during the journey. There are also stories like that of Rafael Moyet, who recounted how luggage was stolen from him during a state-run bus trip from Camagüey to Havana in the early hours. He criticized the driver’s indifference and the lack of response from the company in charge.
Growing Concerns Amidst Rising Crime
The repeated reports of thefts on long-distance buses have sparked outrage among the Cuban public, who question the lack of security measures in a service already deemed costly and unreliable. Social media users have even suggested the possibility of internal complicity in some incidents, although no evidence supports this theory. Regardless of speculation, interprovincial passengers increasingly feel at risk.
Bus terminals, airports, and highways have become frequent crime scenes that, beyond financial loss, threaten people’s safety. Despite a wave of citizen complaints, authorities’ responses have been deemed insufficient. The population demands more effective action to curb the growing crime rate on the island, where the economic crisis has fueled both desperation and violence.
Insights into Interprovincial Bus Thefts in Cuba
How did the thieves manage to open the luggage compartment?
The thieves reportedly used a crowbar to force open the locked luggage compartment, demonstrating their preparedness and speed.
Why didn't the passengers report the theft immediately?
The passengers chose not to report the theft immediately to avoid delaying their journey, reflecting their sense of helplessness in such situations.
Have there been similar theft incidents on Cuban buses?
Yes, there have been several incidents where thieves have targeted interprovincial buses, using tactics like hiding in luggage to steal from passengers.