This past Saturday, authorities in Camagüey apprehended a man suspected of stealing solar panels by leaping from rooftop to rooftop. This dramatic arrest unfolded after images and videos circulated on social media.
Photos posted on Facebook depict the suspect, a slender man with short gray hair, wearing a long-sleeve black shirt and worn denim shorts, held to the ground by locals, visibly in poor physical condition.
In addition to these images, security camera footage was shared, allegedly capturing the individual tampering with items in an outdoor space during the early hours of the morning.
The social media post revealing the incident claimed the detained man "received a beating so severe that he wet himself," highlighting the physical assault he endured before law enforcement arrived.
Among the comments, one resident noted that a solar panel was also stolen the previous night on Segunda Street in the Agramonte neighborhood, suggesting the suspect might have been active in multiple areas of the city.
"Families abroad make significant sacrifices so their relatives can have a better life," lamented one commenter in response to the theft.
The incident sparked widespread frustration on social media, reflecting the growing exasperation among Cubans over ongoing security issues. "They caught one, but there are thousands more out there stealing," one user remarked, while another pointed out that the suspect "must have accomplices because he couldn't manage even a zinc sheet alone."
There were widespread calls for harsher penalties for such crimes. "They need to serve several years to learn not to live off the sacrifice of others," another person commented.
Mistrust in the judicial system was also evident. "In other countries, thieves get their hands cut off, but here, those who steal and kill are back on the streets in three days doing the same things," an internet user observed.
Another commenter demanded "laws that protect citizens' property, not criminals."
This case adds to a string of solar panel thefts across Cuba during 2025 and 2026, exacerbated by extended blackouts that have driven up the black market value of these panels.
The thefts have affected both private residences and critical infrastructure, including water pumping stations, telecommunications nodes, and maternity homes.
On the same Saturday, in Cárdenas, locals captured and restrained another alleged thief while waiting for authorities to arrive.
Back in June, a solar panel theft at a telecommunications site in Holguín left four communities of Plan Turquino without a television signal.
In Guantánamo, thieves attempted to steal a solar panel from a fourth-floor location at 3:05 am; police never showed up despite being called.
The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC) reported 2,833 verified crimes on the island in 2025, marking a 115% increase from 2024 and a 337% rise from 2023, averaging seven to eight crimes daily.
Despite the regime's classification of solar panel theft as sabotage under Supreme Court Ruling 475, carrying penalties of up to 30 years or life imprisonment, these thefts persist.
Understanding the Solar Panel Theft Crisis in Cuba
What has led to the increase in solar panel thefts in Cuba?
The rise in solar panel thefts is largely attributed to prolonged power outages, which have increased the demand and value of solar panels on the black market.
How are communities responding to the thefts?
Communities are increasingly taking matters into their own hands, capturing suspects and expressing frustration on social media, calling for more severe penalties and effective law enforcement.
What legal measures have been implemented to address these crimes?
The Cuban regime has classified solar panel theft as sabotage, which can result in sentences of up to 30 years or life imprisonment, according to Supreme Court Ruling 475.