Police in the city of Bayamo have apprehended suspects linked to a home burglary where items ranging from appliances to food, including a pressure cooker, were stolen.
This report was shared on Saturday by the Facebook page Entérate con Aytana Alama, a platform aligned with the government's Ministry of the Interior (Minint). The post confirmed that police investigations led to the arrests of those involved in the forceful entry and theft from a home in the capital of Granma province.
According to the post, the criminals broke through the home's back door and made off with a pressure cooker, an induction stove, fans, a package of chicken, and a small canister of liquefied gas—items of substantial value amid the domestic scarcity faced by the island.
The incident surfaces just weeks after a Cuban woman residing in the United States shared on social media that her family, living in a rural area in eastern Cuba, had their hot pressure cooker stolen while they were cooking beans on a charcoal stove, due to the lack of electricity and gas for preparing meals.
In that instance, the cooker vanished in mere seconds, and the only clue the victim had was the sound of steam as the thief fled with the pot in hand.
Back in October, a man was caught on security cameras stealing a cell phone in a Havana café, an event that has sadly become all too common in the city’s daily life.
Similarly, a mother from Baracoa voiced her outrage on social media after her three-year-old daughter's rechargeable fan was stolen, a crucial item during the extended blackouts plaguing Guantánamo province, making it almost impossible to sleep in many Cuban homes.
The surge in thefts across the island is linked to the deepening economic crisis.
The shortage of resources, rampant inflation, and the decline of public services have fueled a rise in crime, affecting both urban centers and rural areas.
While some arrests have been made, the general sentiment is that law enforcement is not responding swiftly enough, heightening frustration and distrust among the populace, who increasingly turn to social media to report these crimes.
Understanding the Surge in Crime in Cuba
What items were stolen in the Bayamo burglary?
The thieves took a pressure cooker, an induction stove, fans, a package of chicken, and a canister of liquefied gas.
Why is there an increase in thefts across Cuba?
The rise in thefts is linked to the worsening economic crisis, characterized by a scarcity of resources, high inflation, and deteriorating public services.
How are Cubans responding to the lack of police action?
Frustrated by slow police responses, many Cubans are resorting to social media to report crimes and express their dissatisfaction.