A Cuban individual named José Rodríguez made an urgent plea this Sunday on the Facebook group REVOLICO BAYAMO: Buy and Sell in GRANMA, targeting the thief who stole his wife's suitcase at the Bayamo bus terminal.
In exchange for its return, he offered a laptop.
According to his account, the theft took place between 2:30 and 4:00 a.m. in the Viazul area of the terminal, where the couple was waiting for a bus scheduled to depart at 12:20 a.m., which was delayed.
José noted in the comments that fatigue from the wait eventually overcame him: "I fell asleep for a moment, and my wife went to the bathroom. Someone was watching...," he wrote.
In that short time, someone seemingly took the opportunity to make off with the luggage.
The suitcase mainly contained women's clothing, but also several items of sentimental value, including dresses and rings that his wife's grandmother had gifted her.
The loss is particularly painful as his wife plans to leave Cuba on August 7.
"If the thief sees this, know that we're not vindictive. We'll trade a laptop for a couple of dresses, at least, which have sentimental value, and some rings her grandmother gave her," José wrote.
He also mentioned that the person could contact him from a fake account and promised not to file a report if the belongings were returned.
The only silver lining was that no personal documents were in the luggage.
"My wife is leaving the country on the 7th of next month. Thank God she didn't have any documents, like a passport, in that suitcase," he pointed out.
José recounted calling the police but criticized their response: "They came, told me to wait for other officers to come and see the case. They left, and I'm still waiting for them. They don’t even know if I left or am still here. Can they even be called police?"
He concluded his post expressing sorrow that this incident would define his wife's last days on the island: "It's a shame my wife takes this experience from my island to her country..."
Several users commented that the Viazul area within the terminal should be a restricted and monitored space. Some suggested that José should directly address the company’s management.
"Complain to the director of Viazul. They have to be accountable. That's a restricted area, and you can only enter with your ticket," wrote Alexeida Viamonte Cedeño, who speculated, without evidence, that there might be some coordination with the thieves.
Other users highlighted the rising insecurity and criticized that an expensive transport service fails to ensure the safety of passengers and their belongings.
"You need to carry a thermos of coffee to stay awake because crime in Cuba has become too rampant. Not even Viazul is respected anymore; it's not punctual, let alone guarantees safety, despite its high cost. A total disaster," commented Zulay Galán Palacio.
This incident occurs amid increasing reports of insecurity in Cuba. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, an independent organization, documented 2,833 crime reports during 2025, a 115.11% increase from 2024. Thefts were the most common category, with 1,536 cases.
These figures are based on monitoring complaints published on social media and in the press, rather than complete official statistics, which are publicly unavailable in Cuba.
Understanding Crime and Security Challenges in Cuba
What items were stolen from the suitcase?
The suitcase contained mainly women's clothing and several items of sentimental value, including dresses and rings gifted by the wife's grandmother.
What was José's offer for the return of the suitcase?
José offered a laptop in exchange for the return of the suitcase, emphasizing the sentimental value of its contents.
How has crime been trending in Cuba recently?
Reports of crime in Cuba have been increasing, with the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory documenting a significant rise in incidents, particularly thefts, in recent years.