Security Camera Captures Cell Phone Theft in Havana Café

A surveillance camera at a café in Nuevo Vedado, Havana, captured the moment a thief boldly snatched a cell phone almost under the nose of an employee handling orders at the window. The incident occurred this Thursday and was promptly reported on Facebook by José Alberto Riverón Becerra, who called for help to identify the perpetrator.

"This man just stole a phone from one of our employees. Any information would be appreciated. It happened at the burger joint of El Jardín de los Milagros restaurant in Nuevo Vedado. Please share across all networks so this man doesn't continue stealing," Riverón wrote.

The suspect, described as a tall, hefty man of middle age wearing a T-shirt, cap, and carrying a backpack, approached the café window to place an order. Seizing the opportunity while the employee fetched the items, the thief made a couple of attempts to reach through the window to grab a mobile phone resting on the counter, clearly visible from the glass display.

As the employee turned to retrieve a beverage from the fridge, the thief swiftly inserted part of his torso and arm through the window, grabbed the phone, and slipped it into his pocket before the worker turned back. He then calmly paid for his order and left.

The entire theft took just one minute and 20 seconds, all of which was captured by the café's security camera. This incident adds to the growing number of thefts and robberies reported throughout the country recently, contributing to a wave of crime that has heightened social insecurity and kept the population on edge.

Faced with the lack of police action upon reporting such incidents, homeowners and business proprietors in Cuba have been compelled to install surveillance systems to document criminal activities and assist in the apprehension of offenders.