Authorities have apprehended a man who was caught red-handed attempting to steal a cell phone inside a restaurant in Havana.
A video shared on Tuesday by the Instagram account un_martitodurako8_live_oficial captures the moment when officers from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), with assistance from patrons and employees at Los Nardos restaurant in Old Havana, escorted the thief out of the premises. The suspect was handcuffed and placed into a police vehicle.
The post's comments reveal that the man was caught in the act by both customers and workers while trying to take a mobile phone. He was held until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
The footage shows the alleged criminal, a young man, being led out with his hands bound by what appear to be shoelaces from his own sneakers, which a police officer is seen holding.
Before being placed in the police car, which arrived surprisingly swiftly at the restaurant's entrance opposite Havana's Capitol building—a prime tourist area—a bystander delivers a punch to the suspect.
The post did not specify the intended victim of the phone theft.
Several followers of the page expressed skepticism, suggesting that while the police detained the individual, he would likely be released shortly and return to the streets to commit more crimes, a pattern that has become alarmingly common in the nation.
Others criticized the authorities for being lenient with criminals while harshly punishing those who protest against the regime, the shortages, and the lack of freedoms in Cuba with severe and arbitrary prison sentences.
Incidents like the one captured on Tuesday have become routine in Cuban social media, highlighting the rampant increase in thefts and assaults occurring at any hour of the day.
Just a few days ago, residents of San Miguel del Padrón in Havana nabbed a thief after a string of robberies in a neighborhood, which included stolen clothes from clotheslines, a water pump, and other items.
Last week, an attempted theft of an electric scooter was thwarted thanks to the quick action of several individuals in a busy area of Santiago de Cuba. In the same eastern city, locals caught another person trying to break into a home.
Understanding the Rise in Crime in Cuba
What led to the arrest of the man at the Havana restaurant?
The man was caught attempting to steal a cell phone by both patrons and employees of the restaurant. He was detained until police arrived and apprehended him.
Why are such theft incidents becoming more common in Cuba?
The increase in thefts and assaults is attributed to economic hardships and the lack of effective law enforcement, which has resulted in a rise in crime across the country.
How are Cuban authorities responding to these thefts?
Critics argue that the authorities are lenient with criminals, often releasing them quickly, while they impose severe punishments on those who protest against the regime.