In a brazen daylight incident, two men forcibly entered a home on Bembeta Street, located between San Ramón and Horca, in the city of Camagüey. They brutally attacked an elderly woman, according to a report shared on Facebook by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada.
A source confirmed to Cibercuba that the assailants, who were hooded, accessed the house through the backyard to catch the woman off guard, stealing some jewelry and a cellphone from her.
The severity of the assault necessitated the arrival of an ambulance to provide medical attention to the victim.
Community Concerns Over Rising Crime
What deeply concerns the local community is that this incident is not isolated. Neighbors have previously alerted authorities about security issues in the backyards and rear entrances of homes in the area, but effective responses have been lacking.
"Such incidents keep happening," residents lamented, as reported by Tan Estrada.
Pattern of Crime in Camagüey's Neighborhoods
This pattern of crime has been ongoing in Camagüey for months. In August, residents detained a suspected thief in the yard of a house in the Previsora neighborhood because the police failed to arrive on time. In April, a woman was left in critical condition after being attacked with a knife near the Railway Terminal, marking the second violent robbery in that area within a week.
In May, an elderly man in the Modelo neighborhood managed to hold a would-be thief at bay until neighbors tied him up for the police to arrive, demonstrating the community's resort to vigilante justice due to institutional inaction.
Historical Context of Violence
Cases of this nature trace back to 2025, when hooded gangs terrorized homes in Vertientes, and an 83-year-old woman was savagely beaten for her phone and money.
The surge in crime in Camagüey is reflective of a national trend. The Observatorio Cubano de Auditoría Ciudadana (OCAC) documented 2,833 verified crimes in Cuba in 2025, marking a 115% increase from 2024 and a 336% rise compared to 2023, with theft being the most prevalent category.
The Ministry of the Interior itself acknowledged in February this year a 25% rise in property crimes, attributing it to the "complex economic situation," while failing to address the role of the regime in the degradation of living conditions.
Understanding Crime Trends in Camagüey
What recent crime incidents have occurred in Camagüey?
Recent incidents include a daylight assault on an elderly woman in her home, a knife attack near the Railway Terminal, and a thwarted theft where residents detained a suspect before the police arrived.
How have residents responded to the crime wave in Camagüey?
Residents have resorted to taking matters into their own hands, such as detaining suspects themselves, due to the perceived lack of effective police response.
What has been the national trend in crime rates according to OCAC?
The OCAC reported a significant rise in crime rates nationally, with a 115% increase in verified crimes from 2024 to 2025 and a 336% increase since 2023, highlighting theft as the most common offense.