A video capturing the moment a cellphone thief was apprehended by locals in Santiago de Cuba has been shared widely on social media. Activist Lara Crofs posted the footage on her Facebook page, showing two men dragging the culprit down the street and making him sit on the sidewalk as a crowd shouted around them.
The young thief had his hands tied behind his back and appeared disoriented. According to an eyewitness, he had been struck several times, although this was not visible in the video. "If they hadn't caught him, he would have gotten away with it," a woman can be heard saying indignantly.
The incident occurred on Friday on Carnicería Street. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported that local residents apprehended the thief as he attempted to snatch a phone from a young woman. They dragged him along the street, beat him, and eventually took him to the nearest police station.
"Many people have applauded the lynching, arguing that if they don't take justice into their own hands, these criminals will be back on the streets in no time," Mayeta added.
A local resident disclosed that the thief was from Havana and had come to Santiago to commit robberies. He had tried to hide in a house located on San Bartolomé Street between San Germán and San Francisco. "He snatched a phone from an elderly man, and we acted quickly. The thief had been lurking in the area for about three days, and he admitted that stealing is what he does in Havana," the resident detailed.
Increasing Vigilante Actions Amid Rising Crime
In recent months, Cuba has seen several instances where citizens have taken matters into their own hands to detain criminals, amidst a surge in crime and ineffective police action. This week, residents in Havana captured a thief and kept him on the ground for over two hours, waiting for the police to arrive and take him away. According to the Facebook profile "La Tijera," the individual was caught and "disciplined" by the people.
In June, residents of Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, apprehended a man accused of snatching phones. They beat him and tied him to a post. Crime reporter Niover Licea (Nio reporting a crime) shared a video of the incident showing the young man lying on the ground, his hands tied behind him to an electricity post and his bare feet also bound. He appeared semi-conscious, with closed eyes and clear signs of having been beaten, including a bloodied face and swollen lips and cheeks. People around him hurled insults, calling him shameless.