A man forcibly took a cell phone from an individual sitting on their porch in the city of Guantánamo. Thanks to the swift action of local residents and law enforcement patrols, the suspect was quickly apprehended. This incident was reported on Wednesday by the Facebook page "Guantánamo y su Verdad."
The alleged perpetrator was caught on Crombet Street, located between Beneficencia and Carlos Manuel. The stolen phone, a Motorola equipped with a quad camera, is set to be returned to its rightful owner. Accompanying images depict a shirtless young man with visible abrasions on his knees and legs, his face blurred, seemingly in a police facility next to a nighttime scene featuring a police vehicle.
Concurrent Crime Operations in Guantánamo
On the same day, the same Facebook page highlighted another law enforcement operation in Guantánamo. Two individuals were arrested at the intersection of Aguilera and Martí following an anonymous tip-off. "During the apprehension, two knives and a ski mask were confiscated from the suspects," the report stated, further noting that one of the detainees attempted to discard the ski mask during the search.
Rising Crime Rates Across the Island
These events are symptomatic of a rising wave of insecurity sweeping across the island. Just this past June, authorities dismantled three gangs in Guantánamo connected to nine violent robberies. These groups typically operated with their faces covered, wielding knives, and targeting individuals carrying mobile phones.
The Opaque Nature of "Guantánamo y su Verdad"
The nature of the page "Guantánamo y su Verdad" remains unacknowledged, as it is part of a network of profiles aligned with the MININT and the National Revolutionary Police, disseminating police-related content that state media typically overlook.
Mobile phone snatching has emerged as a prevalent crime across Cuba. In August, El Vedado residents detained a man accused of seizing a phone from another person at their doorstep. In September, a doctor in Santiago de Cuba pursued and captured a youth who had stolen his phone. Just recently, a thief entered the Faustino Pérez Hospital in Matanzas through a window, making off with a mobile phone and a rechargeable fan from a patient's room.
Alarming Crime Statistics in Cuba
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit recorded 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, marking a 115% surge from 2024, with 1,536 of these being thefts. In the first half of 2026, there were 90 crimes resulting in death, a 42.9% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Even the MININT admitted in February 2026 to a 25% rise in property crimes, attributing this to the "complex economic situation"—a euphemism for the regime's reluctance to accept its policies' role in the declining living conditions.
Understanding the Crime Surge in Cuba
What factors are contributing to the rise in crime in Cuba?
The increase in crime is largely attributed to the deteriorating economic situation in Cuba, which is exacerbated by the government's policies. Additionally, the lack of state media coverage on certain crimes may skew public perception of safety.
How is the community responding to the crime wave?
Communities are actively participating in crime prevention by collaborating with local law enforcement, as seen in the recent incident in Guantánamo where residents helped apprehend a suspect.
What measures are being taken by authorities to address the crime issues?
Authorities have been conducting operations to dismantle criminal gangs and increase police presence in affected areas, although the effectiveness of these measures remains to be fully seen.