In the early hours of Friday, four men with criminal records were apprehended while attempting to dismantle and steal the protective railings from the overpass at Calle 114 and the Havana-Pinar del Río Highway, located in Marianao, Havana. This incident was reported by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) on their Facebook page "Héroes de Azul en Cuba."
The operation took place at 1:00 a.m. and was carried out by a joint task force comprised of the Marianao PNR and the Patrol Brigade from the General Directorate of the PNR (DGPNR). According to the state-run media outlet Tribuna de La Habana, the suspects were caught red-handed during the act of theft.
Among those arrested, two were from Santiago de Cuba, one hailed from Guantánamo, and one was a local from Havana, suggesting a coordinated effort behind the crime. The PNR detailed that the individuals had prior convictions for crimes including robbery with force, cattle theft, illegal economic activities, and possession of bladed weapons.
In addition to the arrests, authorities confiscated a state-owned bus, belonging to a worker transportation company, which was used in the criminal operation, along with tools intended for removing the metal railings.
The use of a government vehicle did not go unnoticed on social media. One commenter sarcastically remarked, "It's inconceivable that such things happen... Where's the transportation oversight? There's no service available, but there's a bus for criminal activities."
Reactions on Facebook were widespread, exposing the deteriorating state of public infrastructure throughout the island. A user from Santa Clara noted, "Vandalism here is so rampant that no bridge has railings left." Other residents reported similar thefts across Havana, including streetlights near José Martí Airport, pole tensioners in El Calvario, stones from Parque de la Fraternidad, and railings from the airport bridge.
Another comment summed up the situation bluntly: "Havana is being stripped of its fences." The sentiment was echoed by a pithy observation from another user: "People are stealing everything, even the garbage."
This incident is not an isolated one. Late in October, several youths were seen hammering the beams of the floating dock at the Alameda de Paula to sell them as scrap. Days earlier, authorities in Jovellanos, Matanzas, detained a man for stealing metal angles from 110 kV transmission towers.
In August, two individuals attempted to take eight aluminum tubes from the Matanzas Viaduct, and another segment of railings went missing from the General Lacret Morlot Bridge over the Yumurí River, endangering pedestrians and seniors alike.
Statistics highlight the extent of the problem. The "Public Insecurity in Cuba. January–June 2026" report from the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Auditing recorded 592 theft reports during that period, accounting for 60.1% of all documented crimes, with an average of 3.27 cases daily. Thefts targeting state property increased by 12.9% compared to the same period the previous year.
Cuba's long-standing economic crisis, compounded by a collapsing energy system and widespread shortages, drives many citizens to pilfer metals and materials from public infrastructure for resale in the informal market.
The four individuals arrested at the Marianao bridge are currently under investigation as authorities work to determine the full scope of their responsibilities.
Theft and Infrastructure Decay in Cuba
What were the suspects trying to steal in Marianao?
The suspects were attempting to steal the protective metal railings from an overpass on the Havana-Pinar del Río Highway.
Why is theft of public infrastructure increasing in Cuba?
The increase in theft is largely driven by Cuba's economic crisis, the collapse of its energy system, and widespread shortages, leading people to steal materials for resale in the informal market.
How have social media users reacted to these thefts?
Social media users have expressed outrage and concern, highlighting the widespread vandalism and decay of public infrastructure across the island.