A Cuban woman was apprehended at Guardalavaca Beach in Holguín province, accused of stealing cash and an iPhone from her male companion following a social outing. Witnesses, cited by the pro-government Facebook page Cazador-Cazado, reported that the pair was enjoying an evening with drinks when the woman, identified as Mayelín Godales Verdecia, allegedly seized several thousand pesos and the mobile device during a moment of inattention from the man.
The victim, whose nationality remains unspecified, whether Cuban or foreign, noticed the missing belongings and promptly reported the incident to authorities. The police quickly located the woman, who is now in custody and will face the necessary legal proceedings. According to the same source, neighbors and acquaintances describe the accused as having a history of similar behavior.
Authorities have reiterated their call to the public to exercise caution and to report any criminal activity, as emphasized by the somewhat brazen tone of the pro-government profile. The case has sparked widespread debate on social media, with opinions split between those criticizing the criminalization of the accused and those supporting the publication of such incidents as public warnings.
Some users argue that publicizing the event is unnecessary and suggest the woman's actions could stem from economic hardship. They point out that more serious crimes, like corruption and institutional theft, do not receive the same level of attention. "Nobody knows the need that woman had. What they should publish is what gets stolen in companies and the government," commented one user.
Others justify the woman's actions by claiming men seek relationships with younger women without taking financial responsibility. "If the man was stingy and didn’t want to give her anything, he deserved to have everything taken," a user remarked.
In contrast, some reject any justification for theft and stress the importance of highlighting such cases to prevent others from falling into similar traps. "Theft is theft, don't sugarcoat it," observed a commenter.
A common speculation in the comments is that the police acted unusually swiftly because the victim might be a foreigner. Comparisons were drawn to other cases where Cuban citizens' complaints did not receive the same prompt attention from the authorities. "If it had been a Cuban, they'd still be waiting for the police to show up," another Cuban stated.
No further details about the incident have been released as of the closure of this report.
Public Reaction and Law Enforcement in Cuba
How did the public react to the arrest at Guardalavaca Beach?
The public opinion is divided; some criticize the criminalization of the accused woman, while others see the publication of the incident as a necessary warning.
Why do some people believe the police acted quickly in this case?
There is speculation that the police response was unusually fast because the victim might be a foreigner, compared to slower responses in cases involving Cuban citizens.