Theft in Ciego de Ávila: Valuables Stolen While Family Sleeps

A resident of Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, reported a significant theft from her mother's home early Tuesday morning. The thief brazenly entered the residence while three elderly adults and a 10-year-old child were asleep, making off with several high-value items.

The stolen goods included a Samsung S23 smartphone, an EcoFlow power station, and a rechargeable fan. These items are particularly valuable in Cuba, where citizens frequently endure lengthy power outages.

Arlet JM Fajardo, who reported the incident on Facebook, described how the intruder forced open a window, protected by aluminum shutters, to gain entry. A photo accompanying her account showed the metal bars visibly bent.

Fajardo suspects that the perpetrator was familiar with the house and knew exactly what to target. "They came in and went straight for what they wanted," she remarked.

This suspicion was echoed by numerous users responding to the post, with some suggesting that the thief could be someone who knew the family or had previously been inside the home.

Despite the loss of valuable property, Fajardo expressed relief that none of her family members awoke while the intruder was inside. "I don't even want to imagine what could have happened if my mom, one of the elderly, or my son had woken up to find that criminal in the house," she wrote.

Delayed Police Response Raises Concerns

The family reported the burglary to the police at around six in the morning. However, according to Fajardo, officers from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) had yet to arrive at the scene several hours later. "By this time, all that's left of the crime scene is the crime itself," she lamented.

Fajardo criticized the sluggish police response to a break-in with residents inside, contrasting it with the speed they allegedly exhibit when pursuing critics of the Cuban regime. "Stand on a corner and criticize the government, and you'll see how quickly they show up. There's always fuel, patrols, police, and resources for that. But to protect those who work, the elderly, and children from criminals, there's never anyone," she asserted.

Her post garnered numerous reactions and stories from others who have experienced similar situations across various provinces.

Rising Theft of Energy Devices

The theft of power stations and other devices used to cope with power outages has become increasingly common in recent months across Cuba. In early August, a family in Camagüey reported the theft of an EcoFlow Delta 2 and an electric bicycle during a nighttime break-in while the house was occupied.

A similar incident occurred in July, when a grandmother's power station was stolen, and the PNR arrived three days later without conducting a proper investigation. The explanation given was that there were "more cases like this."

In Matanzas, several thefts of energy devices with a similar modus operandi were documented in July.

EcoFlow stations, with prices exceeding $1,000 depending on the model, along with fans and other rechargeable devices, represent a significant investment for Cuban families. In a nation plagued by daily power outages and insufficient wages to easily replace these items, losing such equipment can be more than just an economic blow.

For many families, these devices are one of the few means to keep a fan running, charge phones, or have electricity for a few hours when the National Electrical System fails.

Growing Insecurity and Lack of Protection

The Ciego de Ávila case is part of a broader pattern of citizen reports of thefts, assaults, and other violent incidents in Cuba. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC) identified and verified 2,833 crime reports in 2025, a 115% increase from the 1,317 documented in 2024 and a 337% rise from the 649 recorded in 2023. Theft was the most prevalent category, with 1,536 incidents.

Meanwhile, Cubalex documented 168 incidents of violence and insecurity and 37 homicides in July 2026, marking the highest monthly figure since the organization began tracking these statistics.

For Fajardo, the incident at her mother's house not only resulted in the loss of hard-earned possessions but also served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability many families feel in the face of crime and the lack of governmental response.

"Above all, don't expect the government to protect you or respond when you truly need it, as once again, their priorities are made clear," she concluded.