A Cuban woman, Denisse Herrera Matos, took to Instagram to share a video detailing an attempted theft of her motorcycle outside Varadero's Casa de la Música. When she called the police, she was stunned by their reaction: they blamed her for not parking the vehicle in a supervised area.
Denisse recounted how the motorcycle was parked right in front of where she was sitting when the thieves struck. Upon returning to her vehicle, she discovered the damage: the steering was tampered with, the lock was broken, and the entire ignition system was pulled out.
Instead of receiving the help she expected, the police's response left her in disbelief. "The patrol blamed me, telling me I should have been watching the motorcycle or parked it somewhere secure with a guard," she expressed with frustration.
Denisse pointed out that the officers took no investigative measures: they neither collected fingerprints nor pursued the suspects.
"It's supposed to be their job to protect us. When I report an attempted theft, they should be the ones collecting evidence and taking action," she asserted.
This incident wasn't Denisse's first. Back in January, another motorcycle was stolen from inside her home: "They broke in and stole my bike."
Having purchased the vehicle as her sole means of transportation, Denisse emphasized her vulnerability: "I'm a woman on my own, and I have to handle everything by myself."
Her complaint ended with a statement that resonates with many Cubans: "That's why this country is the way it is. Because the police do nothing and will continue to do nothing. We have no protection."
This is not an isolated case.
In July, residents of Cárdenas detained and tied up a suspected thief due to police inaction. In June, an electric tricycle theft in Varadero was recorded by three neighborhood cameras without an effective police response.
The pattern of blaming victims has institutional roots.
In December 2024, Las Tunas police held owners accountable for the surge in electric motorcycle thefts, citing "negligence" on the part of the victims.
In September 2025, Camagüey police told a fraud victim, "The victim is to blame, not the fraudster."
Statistics reflect the worsening situation.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit documented 2,833 verified crimes in Cuba during 2025, marking a 115% increase from 2024 and a 337% rise from 2023, with 1,536 thefts being the most common crime.
Matanzas, where this latest incident occurred, topped the national list with 503 cases that year, highlighting the alarming surge in crime across Cuba.
As crime rates soar, analysts and independent media argue that the regime prioritizes political repression over real citizen protection against crime.
Understanding Crime in Cuba: Key Questions and Answers
What was the police's reaction to the attempted theft in Varadero?
The police blamed Denisse Herrera Matos for not parking her motorcycle in a supervised area and took no investigative actions such as collecting fingerprints or pursuing suspects.
How have crime rates changed in Cuba over the years?
According to the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit, there was a significant increase in crime, with 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, a 115% increase from 2024, and a 337% rise from 2023, with thefts being the most common.
What other incidents highlight the lack of police response in Cuba?
In July, residents of Cárdenas captured a thief due to police inaction, and in June, an electric tricycle theft in Varadero was caught on cameras without police intervention.