Energy Equipment Thefts in Matanzas Follow Repeated Pattern

A resident of Matanzas took to Facebook on Saturday to report two thefts of EcoFlow equipment in her immediate vicinity, both executed using the same method: thieves distract their victims with pretexts, allowing them to steal the equipment unnoticed.

The first incident happened earlier that morning. An unknown individual approached the home of the author's elderly relatives, who are over 80, asking for a glass of water.

While the woman went to fetch it, the thieves entered the home and made off with an extra EcoFlow battery. They were about to take a second unit when they were caught in the act and fled without being apprehended.

Theft in Broad Daylight

The second theft occurred a few days earlier at a hardware store across from the resident's home. According to her account, a woman engaged the store clerk in conversation while an accomplice used the distraction to steal the EcoFlow device.

"Every day there are more theft reports, yet so few are resolved," the author wrote in her post.

The complaint garnered numerous responses on social media, with many Cubans sharing similar experiences. One commenter noted that her 86-year-old mother fell victim to the same tactic: "They followed her into the bedroom where the phones were. Luckily, she hadn't closed the gate, and once they got what they wanted, they left. If she had closed it, they might have harmed her to escape. It's sad, truly sad."

Increasingly Sophisticated Tactics

Another person warned that criminals have refined their techniques: "Sometimes they come with women and small children to play on the victims' emotions, or even with elderly individuals to dramatize the situation. We often don't realize they've already scoped out their targets."

From Cárdenas, a commenter described a variant of the scheme: "A woman knocks asking for help, and when you open the door, they attack and rob you. I don't open my gate all day, especially not at night."

The police response has also faced scrutiny. One user complained, "Two hours after filing a timely report, the operational guard hadn't shown up."

Another was more blunt: "Crime runs rampant while the police do nothing. But stand on your street corner and criticize the government, and the revolutionary police will appear in full force."

A Pattern of Crime

This trend of theft is not new to the province. In April, thieves broke into the home of an 87-year-old in Perico while he slept, stealing an EcoFlow unit along with two solar panels.

In February, a daylight robbery in Cárdenas sparked outrage on social media.

EcoFlow devices have become prime targets for Cuban criminals due to their high value—ranging from $499 to over $1,600—and their critical utility amid power outages lasting six to 12 hours daily.

The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit reported 2,833 verified crimes in Cuba in 2025, a 115% increase from 2024, with theft being the most common crime, accounting for 1,536 cases.

The author of the post linked the crime wave to the nation's systemic crisis: "Material deprivation breeds human depravity. Broken homes become accomplices to these misdeeds, as without work, they can't afford clothing, parties, or even food in today's Cuba."

One commenter summed up the issue: "What's happening in Cuba can only be described as societal degradation in every aspect, and it's worsening daily. From Cape San Antonio to Punta de Maisí."